Eastern Ontario Farmers Cautious as Alto Seeks Land Access for Major Project Expansion

Eastern Ontario Farmers Wary as Alto Land Access Requests Raise Expropriation Fears

Farmers and rural landowners across eastern Ontario are expressing concern after receiving land access requests from Alto, the Crown corporation leading Canada’s proposed high-speed rail project. While Alto says the field studies are voluntary and part of the early planning process, some property owners fear the requests may be the first sign of future land acquisition or even expropriation.

The issue has created uncertainty in rural communities, where land is not only a major financial asset but also the foundation of daily farming operations and long-term family investment.

Alto Land Access Requests Put Eastern Ontario Farmers on Alert

Among those affected is Marcus Haefele, a farmer near Vankleek Hill who manages more than 1,000 hectares of land. Haefele said he received three separate letters from Alto on the same day, each requesting access to different sections of his family’s property.

One of the areas identified includes a field where he recently invested heavily in a new $7 million chicken barn. For Haefele, the request immediately raised serious questions about how the proposed rail project could impact his operation and future plans.

According to the letters, Alto is requesting access over a period of up to three years, with possible activity taking place from 8 a.m. until midnight. While the corporation says it would provide 48 hours’ notice before entering the land, Haefele believes many of the practical details remain unclear.

He said the requests do not fully explain the exact type of studies that would be carried out or how the work would affect normal agricultural activity.

Farmers Concerned About Safety and Disruption During Planting Season

Timing is a major source of concern for many landowners. With planting season approaching, farmers say the presence of surveyors, equipment, or study teams on active farmland could interfere with work during one of the busiest and most sensitive times of the year.

Haefele noted that the requested studies could involve a wide range of activities, including soil sampling, vegetation analysis, drone imaging, and the installation of temporary monitoring devices. For farmers managing large equipment, livestock, and time-sensitive fieldwork, unexpected access to private land could create both logistical and safety risks.

This has added to the anxiety among producers who are already balancing weather pressures, planting schedules, and rising farm costs.

Expropriation Fears Add to Rural Landowner Distress

One of the biggest issues for eastern Ontario landowners is the fear that these access requests may be the first step toward land acquisition. Some property owners worry that once studies begin, the project could eventually move toward buying land needed for the rail corridor.

Haefele said receiving such notices makes him uneasy, especially because it creates the impression that major infrastructure could one day be built near his home and farm.

That feeling is shared by members of Boisés Est, a woodlot owners association representing rural property owners in the region. Association president Jean Saint-Pierre said some members have also received letters from Alto, and several are deeply distressed by what the requests could mean.

He said many landowners are worried not only about losing land, but also about the wider environmental and economic consequences of clearing forested areas and productive farmland for a large transportation corridor.

Environmental and Economic Impacts Remain a Key Concern

Rural residents say the project could have significant long-term consequences for forests, farmland, and local ecosystems. Saint-Pierre said his members are especially concerned about what would happen if large strips of land were cleared to make way for the rail line.

In addition to environmental losses, landowners are also questioning compensation. Some say they have not seen enough information from Alto about how affected properties would be valued or what form of compensation would be offered if land were eventually needed.

For many rural property owners, the concern is not only financial. There is also a strong feeling that communities outside major urban centres may bear the burden of the project without receiving direct benefits from it. Some believe that rural residents are being asked to accept disruption for a service they may rarely use.

Alto Says Field Studies Are Voluntary and Expropriation Is a Last Resort

Alto has tried to reassure landowners by stating that the current field studies are part of early planning work designed to evaluate possible environmental, health, and economic impacts of the proposed rail route.

In a statement, the Crown corporation said the land access requests are entirely voluntary and that no surveys will take place without the landowner’s permission. Alto also stressed that receiving a land entry request does not automatically mean a property will be acquired for the project.

Previously, Alto CEO Martin Imbleau said the corporation’s preferred approach would be to reach willing-seller, willing-buyer agreements with property owners. However, he also acknowledged that expropriation remains part of the legal process if an agreement cannot be reached.

That acknowledgement has done little to ease fears among some landowners, who see the possibility of expropriation as a serious threat even if it is described as a final option.

Some Eastern Ontario Landowners Refuse Access for Now

At this stage, some farmers are choosing not to grant Alto access to their land. Haefele said he does not plan to allow the corporation onto his property for now.

His position reflects a broader mood of caution among landowners who want more transparency before agreeing to any studies. Many are looking for clearer explanations about the scope of the work, the expected timeline, the impact on farming operations, and the protections in place for private property rights.

Until those answers are provided, resistance in some rural communities is likely to continue.

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