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Taras Grescoe 🚇
@taras-grescoe.com

#Quebec’s incoming Parti Québécois government says it will fight Alto, North America’s first true high-speed rail line. Yes, the province with the most to gain from the all-electric train wants to stop this project dead in its tracks. What's behind their stance? 🧵

Taras Grescoe 🚇
@taras-grescoe.com

Alto would be North America's first LGV: a dedicated high-speed line, rather than trains contending with freight traffic on CN + CP tracks. Trains going 300 km/h, up to 72 a day, linking Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. Something to be proud of.

Taras Grescoe 🚇
@taras-grescoe.com

Alto is popular: roughly two-thirds of Canadians support it, including 58% of Conservative voters and 65% of Quebecers. (More than support the PQ.) It would take a big bite out of the up to 94 short-haul flights a day in the Corridor, significantly reducing emissions.

Taras Grescoe 🚇
@taras-grescoe.com

So why is the PQ against it? Because it comes from #Ottawa. PSPP wants the federal billions sent to Quebec with no strings attached. And with sovereignty stuck around 30%, they need to pick a fight to stir up support for a referendum to break up confederation.

5 reposts31 likes

jdthood.bsky.social
@jdthood.bsky.social

You may think that this is the true motivation but this is not what the PQ says. The PQ is of the opinion that the project is a waste of money that can better be spent in other ways (pq.org/nouvelles/un...).

pq.orgUn gouvernement du Parti Québécois retirera le Québec du projet de TGV Alto afin de prioriser l’entretien des infrastructures vétustes - Parti QuébécoisQuébec, le 9 juin 2026 ­­­– Le chef du Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, annonce qu’il retirera le Québec du projet de TGV Alto du gouvernement fédéral estimé à potentiellement 200 milliards ...
Nancy M
@nancym1.bsky.social

Something that’s good for people, their wallets, their communities’ economies, and the planet, something that other countries have and Canada needs, gets turned into a cynical weapon. The US is funding and amplifying this for sure.