The following resolution was passed at the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026:
Whereas the Council of the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen has discussed the Alto high-speed train proposal at the Open Session Council Meetings held on December 2, 2025 and March 3, 2026 and March 17, 2026 and feedback regarding the train proposal has been received by Members of Council from the community via numerous emails, letters, and in-person discussions; and
Whereas the Council and residents of the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen have many unanswered questions regarding the federal government’s proposed Alto high-speed train project; and
Whereas some of the concerns expressed by Council include the possible route of the train, the long-term impact on rural life, expropriation of land, reduction in property values, environmental damage, geographic division of the township and individual properties, reduced access to roadways and connections to Highway 7, negative impacts on local businesses, tourists, and cottagers due to disrupted transportation routes, potential for increased costs to the Township and increased local taxes if new roads are required to be constructed and maintained in order to reroute traffic, lack of community benefit, impact on farmland, the noise generated by train travel, challenges for emergency services due to the rerouting of traffic and train travel through rural areas particularly during forest fire season, as well as the overall cost of the project, and
Whereas there has been no detailed business plan provided by Alto to the Township outlining the proposed benefits or possible liabilities associated with the project; and
Whereas correspondence was sent to Alto and Member of Parliament Emma Harrison on March 6, 2026 requesting that a public meeting be held in HBM and that an explanation be provided as to why the high frequency train proposal was abandoned; and
Whereas the responses received did not provide any new details or answers to the many questions and concerns that have been raised by the Township; and
Whereas the currently proposed Alto high-speed train project does not provide tangible community benefits for Havelock-Belmont-Methuen:
Be It Resolved That Council does not support the current plan for a high-speed train as proposed by Alto.
