OFA adding their name to opposition of high-speed rail line

The OFA President is calling on the federal government to pause the project until there are more consultations.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is calling on the federal government to pause the Alto high-speed rail project. 

The organization issued a joint press release with  l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) on February 27th listing their concerns. 

The proposal would see the corridor link major cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City through dedicated tracks. 

The OFA represents 38,000 farm families across the province. 

President Drew Spoelstra feels the project needs to consider the impact on the province's farm lands.

The OFA has had conversations with Alto representatives and federal ministers, Spoelstra said, and have had the chance to ask their questions and make their concerns known. Spoelstra said the talks, "have been respectful on both sides," adding he does see the potential benefit for some members of the public down the road with the project.

However, he said the federal government and the public at large, "need to understand that this project will have impacts on farmland," adding their goal if high-speed rail were to move ahead is to, "limit the damage." 

Spoelstra said a significant concern rests around the expropriation of farm land 

Not only for farmers, Spoelstra added, but first responders as well. 

Additionally, the uncertainty has led to some sleepless nights for some of their members.

Spoelstra says the project needs to be paused to allow for further consultation, and to be looked at with an agricultural lens. 

Public consultation continues through March.

Listen to the full interview with Spoelstra below.

Story by Grant Deme