Infrastructure

Poilievre Slams High-Speed Rail Plan as a ‘$90-Billion Liberal Boondoggle’

Pierre Poilievre calls the $90-billion Toronto-Quebec City high-speed rail a ‘boondoggle,’ sparking a fierce debate over spending and land expropriation.

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3 weeks ago

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Conservative Leader Demands Cancellation of Toronto-Quebec City Rail

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the Liberal government to immediately scrap its ambitious high-speed rail project linking Toronto and Quebec City. Speaking at a news conference near Peterborough, Ontario, Poilievre described the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure plan as a “ridiculous pie-in-the-sky Liberal spending initiative” and a significant waste of taxpayer funds.

The project, currently estimated to cost between $60 billion and $90 billion, aims to connect major urban centers including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. If completed, the rail network would slash travel times between Montreal and Toronto to just three hours—roughly half the current driving time. Despite these promises of efficiency, Poilievre remains unconvinced, labeling the initiative a “$90-billion Liberal boondoggle” that lacks financial viability.

Concerns Over Land Expropriation and Costs

A central point of contention in the debate is the potential for land expropriation. Alto, the Crown corporation managing the project, recently announced plans to contact property owners between Ottawa and Montreal for land assessments. While Alto CEO Martin Imbleau has stated a preference for fair settlements, he acknowledged that expropriation remains a possibility to ensure the project’s completion. Poilievre seized on this issue, characterizing the move as a “Liberal land grab” and criticizing the government’s recent legislative changes intended to expedite land acquisition.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has suggested the rail line could be designated a project of “national interest,” a move that would streamline federal powers to acquire necessary corridors. This has fueled anxiety among rural residents and farmers whose land sits along the proposed—but yet to be finalized—route.

Diverging Political Visions for Transit

The opposition from the Conservative leader highlights a growing divide over Canada’s infrastructure future. While Poilievre advocates for fiscal restraint and the protection of property rights, other leaders have expressed qualified support. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has signaled interest in the project, though he has specifically suggested the Toronto-to-Ottawa segment should follow the existing Highway 401 corridor to minimize disruption.

As Alto prepares to finalize the exact route by the end of this year, the project remains a lightning rod for political debate. Construction is currently slated to begin on the Ottawa-Montreal leg toward the end of the decade, but its future may ultimately depend on the outcome of the next federal election.

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British Columbia

Okanagan Residents Face Frigid Weekend as Major Gas Outage Disconnects Thousands

Thousands in B.C.’s Lake Country and North Kelowna face a weekend without heat due to a major FortisBC gas outage. Restoration may take until Sunday.

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1 day ago

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April 17, 2026

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Critical Utility Outage Affects Lake Country and North Kelowna

Approximately 6,200 households and businesses in British Columbia’s Lake Country and north Kelowna are bracing for a cold weekend following a significant natural gas outage. The interruption, which began Wednesday afternoon, has left a massive portion of the Central Okanagan without reliable heat or hot water during a period of dropping temperatures. FortisBC has confirmed that while technicians are working around the clock, some residents may not see service restored until Sunday.

A Complex Multi-Stage Restoration Process

The technical challenge of restoring gas service is significantly more labor-intensive than electrical repairs. FortisBC officials explained that the process requires a physical visit to every individual meter in the affected area. Currently, approximately 60 crew members from across the province are working to manually shut off every exterior meter. Once the system is fully decommissioned, crews will begin the “pressurization” phase—a process expected to take roughly three hours. However, the final stage requires technicians to return to every home once more to turn the meters back on and manually relight appliances such as furnaces and water heaters.

Safety Warnings and Emergency Shelters

With the outage expected to last several days, Central Okanagan Emergency Management has established a warming centre at the Oyama Community Club to support vulnerable residents. Local officials are issuing urgent safety warnings, advising citizens against using outdoor heating equipment indoors. Using barbecues, propane heaters, or camp stoves inside a residence poses a severe risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards. The cause of the initial system failure remains under active investigation, as utility workers prioritize the safe and systematic return of service to the impacted communities.

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BC NEWS

Canada’s Arctic Ambition: Inside the $35-Billion Northern Infrastructure Push

Explore Canada’s $35-billion plan for Northern infrastructure, featuring major port, road, and hydro projects to bolster Arctic sovereignty and trade.

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1 month ago

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March 13, 2026

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A Strategic Pivot to the Far North

In a major push to assert sovereignty and revitalize trade, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration has fast-tracked four massive infrastructure projects for the Canadian North. Managed by Ottawa’s Major Projects Office, these developments represent a strategic $35-billion investment designed to fortify national security while unlocking the economic potential of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. As climate change alters the geopolitical landscape of the Arctic, Canada is moving to establish permanent, year-round corridors that replace unreliable winter-only routes.

The Arctic Economic and Security Corridor

Central to the plan is the Grays Bay Road and Port project, a $1.2-billion initiative led by the Inuit-owned West Kitikmeot Resources Corp. This project aims to construct a deep-water port on the Northwest Passage, serving as a critical gateway between Alaska and Greenland. Linked by a 230-kilometre all-season road, the corridor will provide access to vast deposits of gold, zinc, and copper. In the Northwest Territories, a partnering all-weather road from Yellowknife will complete the link, allowing resources to flow seamlessly from the Arctic tidewater to processing facilities in the south.

Reliability in a Changing Climate

The long-sought Mackenzie Valley Highway is another cornerstone of the expansion. Spanning 800 kilometres, this $1.5-billion two-lane gravel highway will connect remote Indigenous communities that currently rely on dwindling winter road seasons. Recent climate data shows that shortening winter windows and low water levels have cost the region millions in disrupted barge deliveries. By creating a permanent link to the Arctic Ocean, the government hopes to lower the cost of living for residents while incentivizing petroleum and mineral exploration.

Powering the Future: The Taltson Hydro Expansion

To support this industrial and civilian growth, the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project will double the capacity of the current NWT hydro system. By adding 60 megawatts of power and constructing a 270-kilometre transmission line, the project will create a unified Northern electricity grid. This initiative is expected to serve 70 per cent of the region’s residents, significantly reducing the dependence on diesel fuel and providing the stable energy necessary to power the next generation of mineral extraction in the Slave Geological Province.

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