In a motion put forward by board member Kathryn Brown through a virtual vote in March, the authority determined that it has a mandated responsibility under Ontario’s Conservation Authorities Act to ensure that development and infrastructure projects within its jurisdiction do not negatively impact the integrity of the watershed.
In a unanimous vote, all 20 members agreed that they do not support the Alto High-Speed Rail Project and are calling on the federal government to enhance existing passenger rail service along established corridors in the region, rather than pursue new development that could negatively impact the watershed’s environment, communities, and properties.
Board Chair Don Kuntze says, “The board of directors for Quinte Conservation are standing up to speak on behalf of the wetlands, agricultural lands, source water protection areas, ecologically sensitive areas and significant woodlands—our provincially-mandated responsibility—to the Alto High-Speed Rail project and the Federal Government against both the northern and southern proposed routes through our area. We encourage Alto and the Federal Government to concentrate on VIA rail passenger service and the existing rail corridor. I can only encourage all citizens to join us and write to Alto and your MP representative to help us deliver this message.”
Quinte Conservation’s Board of Directors and staff have attended Alto’s public information centres, as well as an environmental assessment meeting. The consensus among board members and staff is that there has been a lack of sufficient information, and that a clear and comprehensive plan for the project has not yet been presented.
MOTION QC-26-020
Moved By: Kathryn Brown
Seconded By: John Hirsch
WHEREAS the ALTO High-Speed Rail proposal is a federal project that is planned to connect Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivieres and Quebec City consisting of 1000 km of new rail line with trains travelling through the Quinte region at 300 km/hr, and
WHEREAS there has not been sufficient information provided to residents to demonstrate a clear and comprehensive plan for the proposed high-speed rail project, and
WHEREAS the proposed corridors (north or south) will significantly change the connectivity of our municipalities and residents to local service delivery, and
WHEREAS there are not any identified local benefits of having a high-speed rail system through the Quinte Region, and
WHEREAS the currently proposed southern and northern route will intersect and impact wetlands, significant woodlands, agricultural lands, source water protection areas, and ecologically sensitive shoreline systems within the Quinte Conservation watershed region; and,
WHEREAS the proposed northern corridor route may impact more than 40 different Quinte Conservation properties, and
WHEREAS the proposed southern route may impact more than 25 different Quinte Conservation properties, and
WHEREAS Quinte Conservation has a mandated responsibility under Ontario’s Conservation Authorities Act to ensure that development and infrastructure projects within its jurisdiction do not negatively impact the integrity of the watershed;
Therefore, Be It Resolved that because of the significant impacts that will occur to our region, Quinte Conservation Board of Directors does not support the proposed northern or southern corridor;
And further that, Quinte Conservation Board of Directors recommends that the Federal Government enhance the existing passenger rail service that already has established corridors through our region instead of creating unnecessary negative impacts on our environment, communities and properties,
And further that, a copy of this motion be sent to:
The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada; The Honourable Steve MacKinnon, P.C.; M.P., Minister of Transportation; Martin Imbleau, President and CEO; Alto; Scott Reid, M.P. Lanark-Frontenac; John Jordan, M.P.P. Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston; Shelby Kramp-Neuman, M.P. Hastings–Lennox and Addington–Tyendinaga; Ric Breese, M.P.P. Hastings-Lennox and Addington; Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation; the eighteen (18) municipalities under the jurisdiction of Quinte Conservation; the twelve (12) Conservation Authorities affected by this project; and, Conservation Ontario.
About Quinte Conservation Quinte Conservation is a community-based environmental protection agency. It serves 18 municipalities in the watersheds of the Moira, Napanee and Salmon Rivers and Prince Edward County. It provides cost-effective environmental expertise and leadership. Quinte Conservation’s main goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem where people and nature live in harmony. More information about Quinte Conservation is available at www.quinteconservation.ca.
