To the Editor,

I read Pierre-Yves Bovin, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, Alto’s submitted article with interest. To paraphrase, he said Alto is going to be built. This company that came from nowhere to start a massive project not mentioned during the last election can take your land, but it is OK because they do it legally.

Alto is sounding more like a presidential ball room than a project that will unite Canada. 

Mr. Bovin talks about benefits for future generations. This is another way of saying they did a feasibility study and there is no business case for Alto, certainly not between Montréal and Ottawa. We should keep in mind that highway 417 was built for future generations. Future generations (in 2026 that is us) are still not using the 417 to its capacity. A lack of traffic on the 417, and infrequent flights from Montréal to Ottawa are clear indications that Alto is a waste of money.

Let’s not forget whose money it is. The same money that is busy buying fighter jets and submarines.

This government is acting like someone who just bought a jet ski on installments when they can’t pay the hydro bill. In Canada’s case, the bill we can’t pay is health care. Our public system is falling apart. Better funding for health care is standard election rhetoric, always quickly forgotten, even after COVID. Today, Québec is in a war with its doctors, and its nurses are in short supply. Millions of Canadians cannot find a family doctor. Day long waits in emergency rooms across the country are normal. 

Our government is standing by as public health care crumbles through insufficient funding.

Nonetheless the government has money for a 90 billion dollar project that appeared out of a clear sky that will never be self-financing. They started a new national rail company when Canada already has two national rail companies as well as VIA. CN and CP have already expropriated so much real estate they are among the largest landowners in Canada. We do not we need a fourth national rail company. We do not need Alto.  

Roger McCallum

Grenville sur la Rouge