Alto high‑speed rail expected to add $1 billion to Canada’s GDP and create 11,500 jobs

A study commissioned by Alto and prepared by CPCS projects that the proposed high‑speed rail linking Toronto, Ottawa‑Gatineau, Montréal and Québec City could increase annual tourism spending enough to boost Canada’s GDP by roughly $1 billion and support more than 11,500 jobs along the corridor. The report notes the corridor already attracts over 20% of domestic visitors and more than 40% of international tourists, accounting for more than $31 billion in visitor spending, while 85‑98% of travel currently relies on private vehicles. By offering a fast, efficient alternative, the rail line is expected to reshape travel patterns and expand tourism beyond major urban centres.

Critics argue that the billions earmarked for the project may divert resources from pressing needs such as healthcare, housing and infrastructure, and could involve expropriation of farmland. As former NDP candidate Mario Leclerc writes, “Governments have a responsibility to ensure that limited public resources are directed first toward the most pressing needs of citizens.”