The Ottawa Board of Trade, in partnership with Alto, was proud to host Capital Conversations: Advancing High-Speed Rail Connectivity, a sold‑out luncheon on Monday, January 12 that brought together local business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders to explore what Canada’s first high-speed rail network will mean for our economy and our region. Featuring a keynote address by Alto CEO Martin Imbleau and a fireside chat with OBOT President and CEO Sueling Ching, the event marked the official launch of Alto’s public engagement process and offered Ottawa’s business community an early, in-depth look at the project’s scope, anticipated timeline, and opportunities for local industry and talent.
Canada’s first high-speed rail network is moving from vision to reality, and the Ottawa business community has a crucial role to play in how it is built and how its benefits are captured.
A generational nation-building project
Mr. Imbleau framed Alto as a generational investment that will reshape how people live, work, and connect between Toronto and Quebec City, starting with the first segment from Ottawa to Montreal. This first leg was chosen because Ottawa sits at the crossroads of Quebec and Ontario, allowing a manageable, disciplined start that can be scaled east and west.
Public ownership, private expertise
A key message was that Alto’s infrastructure tracks, stations, and systems will remain publicly owned, protecting long-term public value. Within that framework, private partner Cadence brings major-project delivery experience and global high-speed rail know-how, along with capital and shared risk under a blended finance model.
Economic engine and industrial accelerator
Mr. Imbleau emphasized that Alto is an economic and productivity project, expected to generate nearly 25 billion in annual socioeconomic benefits once fully built, or 1.1% of the country’s GDP. Building and operating the network will set multiple sectors in motion, from steel, concrete, copper, and aluminum to construction, engineering, and advanced rail technologies.
Jobs, skills, and local opportunity
The Ottawa–Montreal segment alone will require tens of thousands of workers, enough to fill every seat at the Canadian Tire Centre three times over, across trades like welders, electricians, crane operators, and signal technicians. Alto plans to work closely with colleges, universities, professional schools, construction firms, and unions in Ontario and Quebec to prepare the workforce and build local capacity.
Inclusive growth and Indigenous participation
Mr. Imbleau underscored a responsibility to ensure that benefits reach every community along the corridor, including Indigenous Peoples. From early design and environmental studies through construction, the project intends to create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses, suppliers, and workers.
Faster, more connected corridor
Alto aims to offer fast, frequent, and reliable service, with 20 to 25 daily departures and trains designed for comfort and productivity. Integrated stations could anchor mixed-use development, including housing, while expanded labour markets will allow employers to draw from a wider talent pool and workers to access more jobs without relocating.
Learning from global high-speed rail
Drawing on examples from France and Spain, Mr. Imbleau highlighted how high-speed rail can shrink countries “in a good sense,” spur domestic supply chains, and induce new travel and economic activity by making train journeys faster, simpler, and more affordable door to door. Alto, he argued, can similarly strengthen East–West unity by bringing Canada’s largest economic centres closer at a time when resilience and cohesion matter.
Responsible delivery and land approach
Delivering trains running at 300 km/h demands straight alignments, limited curves, and a carefully selected number of stops, which in turn requires thoughtful land assembly across urban, suburban, and agricultural areas. Imbleau stressed early engagement, clear communication, and a respect-based approach to land as central to delivering the project responsibly.
Consultation first, decisions later
A major takeaway for Ottawa businesses was Alto’s commitment to consultation before decisions. Rather than presenting fixed alignments and station locations, the team is launching in-person and online consultations across the corridor, including Ottawa, so communities can shape the route, station siting, and local integration.
Clear timeline for action
Mr. Imbleau outlined an ambitious but “doable” timeline: 2026 focuses on consultations and refining the alignment; 2027–2028 on environmental work and detailed design; 2029 on market preparation and construction readiness; and by the end of 2030, full construction underway on the Ottawa–Montreal segment. He acknowledged the challenges of a multi-year, multi-government megaproject but framed perseverance as essential to delivering the benefits Canadians need.
Why Alto, and why now
With travel demand in the Toronto–Quebec City corridor projected to grow by 30 to 40 per cent by 2050, governments will have to invest in new transportation capacity regardless. Imbleau argued that without high-speed rail, Canada risks falling behind peer economies and paying a higher economic, environmental, and social price for inaction.
Accessibility and everyday competitiveness
Alto is not intended to be a niche premium service but an accessible, everyday option for millions of travelers. To succeed, it must be reliable and competitively priced compared with driving or flying, so that choosing the fast train becomes the easy choice for workers, families, and businesses.
What this means for Ottawa’s business community
For Ottawa–Gatineau, Alto promises a larger labour market, easier access to clients and partners across the corridor, and new investment and development opportunities around station areas. Mr. Imbleau’s call to action was clear: local businesses, educators, workforce organizations, and economic partners should start preparing now by engaging in consultations, tracking supply chain opportunities, and aligning training and recruitment strategies with the skills this project will demand. Learn more about how you can get involved here:
- Online Consultation Platform | Alto
- Alto Open Houses | Alto
- Ottawa Open Houses: January 21 and 22 at Bayview Yards, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Virtual Information Sessions | Alto
- Stay Updated | Alto
Thank you as well to Dentons for being a sponsor of this event.