The Member of Parliament for Hastings-Lennox and Addington-Tyendinaga has stated she cannot support a proposed high-speed rail project that would affect many of her constituents.
Shelby Kramp-Neuman released a statement on the proposed ALTO HSR project, saying after taking appropriate steps to educate herself on the proposed ALTO project, including meeting with constituents, stakeholders, municipalities, and ALTO representatives, she cannot support the development of this project via either the North or South route as currently proposed.
This is in large part due to the ‘overwhelming concern’ she has heard from residents in the riding.
“Issues raised include economic viability of the project, proposed environmental and cultural impacts, federal expropriation of land, logistics over the lack of level crossings, and potential negative effects on emergency services and local transportation routes, among others,” she stated.
“Taken together, I believe the concerns of my constituents on both the proposed North and South line are valid and remain unresolved. For the federal government and ALTO to have the agency to proceed responsibly with this project they need to first secure the support and trust of the people and communities most affected. To date, they have fallen well short of that threshold.”
She thanked the grassroots organizations and community member groups for letting their voices be heard on this issue.
This follows Belleville Council approval of a resolution made by Thurlow Ward Coun. Kathryn Brown at a meeting on Monday to oppose the proposed southern route of Canada’s Alto high-speed rail line.
