During the evening on Friday, April 24, Prescott-Russell-Cumberland Member of Parliament Giovanna Mingarelli issued a press release outlining her recent activities involving engagement with the community about the proposed Alto high-speed rail project. These activities have included a series of meetings with residents, the business community, and municipal leadership.

Mingarelli has also emphasized she does not support widespread expropriation and that potential routes which have the least impact on property owners should be considered.

On Friday, April 24, Alto completed the first phase of their public consultation regarding the high-speed rail project. The process, launched in January, ran for three months – which included a one-month extension from March 24 to April 24, due to high demand from the public.

In total, Alto hosted 70+ events and heard from 12,000 people via input made to their interactive online corridor map, which included suggestions, comments and concerns. They will be publishing their “What We Heard Report” in June, which will include a summary of the comments, questions and key themes raised during the consultation period.

“During this time, I have been working directly with residents, municipal leaders, stakeholders, and the federal government to ensure our community’s voice is heard at every stage of this process in Prescott-Russell-Cumberland,” Mingarelli said.

During the past week, Mingarelli held a series of meetings with groups who potentially could be affected by the Alto project.

“I hosted three local roundtables on this matter: one with local farmers and the agricultural community at the St. Isidore Recreation Centre, one with constituents at the Hammond Community Centre, and one with business stakeholders at Ivaco Rolling Mills with the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport,” said Mingarelli.

Those meetings were held in addition to discussions with local municipal and regional government leadership. 


“I convened a meeting in L’Orignal between the Minister of Transport; Mario Zanth, Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell; Bonnie Clark, Chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus; and Normand Riopel, Mayor of the Township of Champlain, to ensure the voices of our local and regional leadership are firmly anchored in Alto’s public consultation process,” Mingarelli explained.

“These discussions have reinforced a clear message from across Prescott–Russell–Cumberland: people expect a process that is transparent, respectful, and grounded in meaningful consultation. Families, farmers, property owners, and municipalities wish to be heard, and they need clear information about what this project could mean for their homes, land, livelihoods, and communities,” she continued.

“I wish to be clear that I do not support widespread expropriation in Prescott-Russell-Cumberland. It is my expectation that Alto will undertake the necessary due diligence and engage in careful conversations with landowners in order to secure the support of the majority of our community as the Alto high-speed rail project continues,” Mingarelli emphasized.

Mingarelli specifically addressed concerns about expropriation.

“The community has been clear they are open to alternative solutions for the path of the train. Wherever there are opportunities to avoid the most serious consequences for property owners and families, those options should be fully explored,” she said.

Mingarelli emphasized the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring early, transparent, and meaningful dialogue with landowners and local communities.

“I am and will remain in close contact with Alto and with the federal Minister of Transport, both of whom are aware of the concerns being raised by constituents across our region. From the moment I was elected, I committed to being a strong advocate for Prescott–Russell–Cumberland, and I will continue to uphold that commitment,” Mingarelli said.