Mirabel, Quebec – A proposed high-speed rail (TGV) line between Québec City and Toronto is sparking renewed debate and dredging up painful memories in the town of Mirabel. Farmers are actively protesting the project, fearing land disruption, whereas local officials are pushing for a station stop within the municipality, a demand currently absent from federal plans.
The call for a Mirabel station is being led by Mayor Roxanne Therrien, who, alongside dozens of regional elected officials, argues that excluding the town from the TGV route would be a missed opportunity for economic development. “Together, we represent nearly 80% of the population of the Laurentides, and if the TGV passes through Mirabel, we are requesting the establishment of a station at the YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel, the third largest aerospace hub in the world,” Therrien stated at a press conference Tuesday, following a demonstration by local agricultural producers. The proposed rail line aims to connect major cities with speeds reaching up to 300 km/h (approximately 186 mph), with plans for 72 trains running daily along a 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) route.
The current proposal does not include a stop in Mirabel, prompting concerns that the town will be bypassed despite the potential benefits of a connection to the high-speed network. “Surely, we don’t want a TGV that passes through Mirabel like a gust of wind,” Therrien said, signaling a willingness to oppose the project if their concerns are not addressed. She also expressed understanding for the opposition voiced by the agricultural community.
Farmers Voice Concerns Over Land Use
Prior to the elected officials’ press conference, dozens of farmers converged on Mirabel’s cultural center, the site of the “first phase of public consultation” on the TGV project, driving their tractors in protest. Farmers fear the rail line will bisect their land, disrupt operations, and impact their livelihoods.
“We, the farmers, are completely opposed to the project. It will cut our land in two, increase our working hours, and really disrupt our logistics regarding harvests and planting,” explained Félix Desrosiers to La Presse canadienne. “We raise livestock, we produce beef,” he added, “and if we lose land, we will lack grain, therefore food for the animals, which is serious, it’s major.”
The Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) and the protesting citizens are concerned that the TGV could threaten the integrity of agricultural land, food security, and the future of farming in the region. Alto, the state-owned corporation responsible for the project, is currently studying a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) wide corridor for the rail line in the Mirabel sector, raising further anxieties about potential land acquisition.
“Within these ten kilometers, Notice entire villages, entire farms,” Desrosiers worried.
Responding to these concerns, Philippe Archambault, Alto’s Vice President of Communications, explained that the purpose of the current consultation is to gather input from those familiar with the area before a final route is determined. Alto aims to “identify the route that will have the least impact, following existing infrastructure as much as possible, following lot lines, minimizing the impact on the number of lands we will need to acquire,” Archambault said during the consultation.
Political Support for Protesters and Lingering Distrust
Jean-Denis Garon, the Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament for Mirabel, joined the farmers at the demonstration, voicing support for their concerns. “The Bloc has spoken in favor of a TGV, but there is a way to do it,” Garon said, emphasizing the need for social acceptability. He characterized Alto’s consultation process as “pseudo-consultations,” arguing that the level of opposition demonstrated on Tuesday should be a clear signal to the government.
Alto’s Archambault responded by stating that the corporation is “having discussions with the Bloc MP and other MPs, as well as the mayor and all the municipalities” regarding the route of the future train.
Farmers are also voicing opposition to Bill C-15, an omnibus bill of over 600 pages that the minority government hopes to pass in the House of Commons. The bill aims to “accelerate the construction of the high-speed train,” and the UPA fears it will facilitate the expropriation of its members.
Echoes of Past Expropriations
The debate surrounding the TGV project has stirred up painful memories for some long-time residents of Mirabel. Françoise Drapeau Monette, 88, was among those protesting the project Tuesday, expressing concerns about potential expropriation.
“Who is going to ride this train? It’s not for us, it’s not for the ordinary people of Mirabel,” she said. “We don’t want the train to pass over our land, and we don’t want to be expropriated a second time,” Drapeau Monette added, recalling being expropriated in 1969 when the federal government seized land to build Montréal–Mirabel International Airport. Montréal–Mirabel International Airport, originally called Montréal International Airport, ceased passenger services in 2004.
Alto acknowledges the past trauma in a statement on its website, recognizing that the population of Mirabel has “suffered major impacts in connection with past projects, the effects of which are still felt today.” The corporation states it is approaching the TGV project “with respect, humility and a duty of responsibility,” and promises not to repeat past mistakes. Alto plans to hold a public open house in the coming weeks to engage directly with residents.
Projected Ridership and Timeline
The proposed TGV between Québec City and Toronto aims to transport up to 24 million passengers annually by 2055, stimulating economic growth, promoting tourism, and expanding access to employment by significantly reducing travel times. The train would connect Montréal and Toronto in three hours and Montréal and Ottawa in under an hour.
The project’s budget, ridership forecasts, and fare projections have not yet been publicly released. Construction of the first phase, between Ottawa and Montréal, is expected to commence in 2029 or 2030. The project is structured as a public-private partnership, overseen by Alto, with a consortium called Cadence responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the line.
The next step in the process involves continued public consultations and the finalization of the TGV route. Alto is expected to announce the proposed route in the coming months, following further discussions with local communities and stakeholders.
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