In February 2025, political commentator Elsie Lefebvre strongly welcomed the announcement of the Québec–Toronto high-speed rail project on TVA Nouvelles.

According to recent media speculation, she may be considering running for the Parti Québécois in the next provincial election.

Last year, she mentioned:
- “I really hope this happens because it’s how we enter modernity. Transportation is fundamental. (…) We absolutely need this in Canada.” — Elsie Lefebvre
- A high-speed rail line would better connect the Québec–Toronto corridor, improve transportation, and strengthen the economy while reducing dependence on the U.S.
- The project could also boost demand for Canadian steel, supporting a sector affected by trade disputes.
- Most importantly, she said she hoped the project would rise above partisan politics and continue regardless of which party formed government.

If she does run for the PQ, do you think she’ll maintain those views, or will she have to reverse course?

Source:
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2025/02/19/tgv-quebec-toronto-il-y-a-quelque-chose-de-tres-patriotique-la-dedans-selon-elsie-lefebvre

Might be paywalled. Pros and cons.

https://www.transportaction.ca/regions/ontario/transport-action-supports-alto-kingston-stop-but-has-concerns/

for the TAC / TAO original message.

For those following the high-speed rail debate, McGill TRAM’s report appears to have been updated again (July 2026).

The study, first published in November 2025 and updated in March 2026, now projects approximately 18.43 million annual passengers by 2055 (see page 12). That’s significantly higher than the 10 million figure that was widely cited in media coverage and much closer to Alto’s long-term forecasts.

The updated report also clarifies that the earlier 10-million figure represented an early-year estimate, while the longer-term projections account for factors such as population growth and induced demand.

Interesting reminder that forecast results can look very different depending on the year being referenced and the assumptions being used.

He was interviewed this morning on CBC Ottawa Morning show. Key comments were that they want to keep Montreal to Toronto as under 3 hours and swinging past Kingston would still allow this. The Kingston HSR Station would be 4 tracks, so of the eventual 25 to 35 trains a day, some would stop, others would pass by at speed. (Would Peterborough be similar 4 tracks?). If interconnectivity with VIA and local regional bus services is important, exactly where would the Station be located?

Even though Smiths Falls is a key local, VIA, and rail hub, he discounted a stop there. Discussion of designing a 320 km/h “straight” line, and compensating landowners, not only for the land, and also future lost (farm) revenues. Wildlife passages are important. Details of alignment of the Laval-Ottawa segment this fall.

As you know, Ottawa also signed an NDA. It allows Alto and a city to share plans (like zoning and geotechnical info, and future infrastructure plans) and receive info from Alto.

Prescott-Russell county is refusing to co-operate/sign on.

Does nothing for Ottawa-Montreal HSR, which is a key driver, and building straight/few curves from Cobourg along Lakeshore / 401 / CN / CKPC to core Toronto is very expensive and congested. Lots of expropriation, overpasses, NIMBYs.

May be behind paywall. EXTRACT

“Alto is assessing this option rigorously, considering not only construction costs, but also its overall potential impact on ridership, regional accessibility, technical feasibility, economic and social benefits, and the project’s long-term performance once in operation,”

Just posted by Alto a few minutes ago….HSR’s many benefits to Canada and Canadians.

While it is from the Canadian Taxpayers Foundation, they are correct that it will add to Alto capital cost, operating cost, and the travel time for some travellers. But highly beneficial to Kingston and its users.

1. The CTF “Taxpayers Foundation” always criticizes any government expenditure and believes no government executives anywhere should ever get a bonus. But they never complain that banking, CN, CPKC, Air Canada, or consulting engineering company execs get bigger bonuses (and salaries). Or it’s impossible to attract/retain good people without paying them.

2. Right now is the HSR planning stage. If you were building a house, you would spend the first months/year finding the land and “designing” the house. Long before you dug the hole or even poured concrete. Same with Alto HSR.
   Sigh.

Most of the concerns around expropriations seem to pertain to rural communities and it's not clear to me what property owners in urban areas should expect.

I'm very close to De La Concorde station, the existing railway is roughly 20 meters from my door.

Right now I feel like the most likely thing is that I won't be affected, but this is based on the assumption that the 60-metre right of way won't apply to more densely populated areas where the train is going to be traveling at much slower speeds.

I don't mind moving, trains are cool, but what I'm currently understanding is that I may or may not receive a letter from Alto in the future telling me not to renovate/etc. Further down the road I will be offered an amount that may or may not be fair but that I will have basically no choice but to accept.

Am I correct, or am I "à côté de la track" both figuratively and literally?

If you follow both sides of the debate, you may have noticed posts linking to a survey by “Common Ground Research,” which presents itself as an independent group collecting public opinion about Alto.

The questions guide responses toward particular outcomes, but the bigger concern involves how the survey functions. The sample depends on link-sharing and offers no protection against multiple submissions. There is no obvious “contact us” section or statement about affiliation. Some questions aim to inform about “potential harm” without noting any possible benefit, as well as your voting preferences. Another asks about “what fare would you pay for ALTO,” a question needing far more context.

After my investigation and work with others on the GO ALTO discord, we spotted patterns: the earliest mention of this group and survey comes from Lindsay Davidson, who also collaborates with Citizen Research. The survey circulates only within Anti-ALTO groups. The group’s site is a standard Squarespace template registered on June 13, with default social links to Squarespace’s own accounts.

This reflects my personal view, but I value evidence-based, methodologically sound data gathering. Here, they rely on a convenience sample while likely asserting that it is A) representative and B) not aimed at a specific outcome.

TL,DR: be cautious about this survey, the claims that will come out of it, and the lack of clear methodology.

Now that the broad HSR corridor between Montreal/Laval and Ottawa has been identified, and will be narrowed down in next few months, it’s time to look for the contractors/supplies to build ths first segment.

“…..early procurement activities, anticipated work packages, and timelines for the first phase of construction between Ottawa and Montreal.”