Farmers and rural landowners in the eastern part of Ontario are now receiving requests from Alto, the Crown corporation overseeing Canada’s proposed high-speed rail project, causing concern among some individuals.
Marcus Haefele, a farmer with over 1,000 hectares of land near Vankleek Hill, disclosed that he was recently approached by Alto with three letters on the same day. The requests entail conducting field studies on various sections of his family’s land, including an area where he recently erected a $7 million chicken barn. They are seeking access over the next three years, from 8 a.m. to midnight, with a promised 48-hour notice before arrival, though the specifics remain unclear.
According to Haefele, the letters outline potential activities such as soil and vegetation sampling, drone filming, and installing temporary monitoring equipment. With the planting season approaching, he expressed concerns about the potential risks of having personnel present during this crucial period, fearing it could be a prelude to land expropriation.
Jean Saint-Pierre, president of the Boisés Est woodlot owners association in the region, mentioned that their members have also been contacted by Alto, causing distress among some. They are apprehensive about the environmental and economic implications, particularly the impact of clearing extensive forest and farmland corridors, without clear compensation plans.
Despite the unease among landowners, Alto’s CEO, Martin Imbleau, emphasized in a recent interview that expropriation would be a last resort, preferring voluntary agreements with willing sellers. However, if negotiations fail, the option of expropriation remains on the table, considering the necessity of acquiring numerous properties for the project.
In response to inquiries, Alto stated that the surveys are part of initial planning efforts to evaluate the potential route’s environmental, economic, and health effects. They clarified that participation in the field studies is voluntary, with no surveys conducted without consent. Furthermore, receiving a land access request does not automatically imply that the property will be acquired for the rail project.
Haefele indicated that, for the time being, he does not intend to grant access to his land for the proposed studies.
