The federal government is staying the course on the Alto high-speed rail project, despite opposition from several provinces and the agricultural community. Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said yesterday that Ottawa will move forward with the project that will connect Toronto to Quebec City. The government has notably adopted legislative measures to speed up the project, in particular by facilitating certain expropriation procedures. The Ontario National Farmers Union, however, is calling for a pause in planning, fearing farmland losses, drainage problems and impacts on farms, as well as wetlands, forests, waterways and wildlife. Doug Ford’s government is also said to question its support for the project. The first works between Montreal and Ottawa are scheduled for 2029.