Ducks Unlimited Canada Position on the proposed Alto Highspeed Rail Project

With respect to the proposed Alto highspeed rail project, we recognize the public interest and concern related to potential impacts on provincially significant wetlands, wildlife habitat and other environmentally sensitive lands. Ducks Unlimited Canada shares this passion. 

The Great Lakes - St Lawrence is a priority region for Ducks Unlimited Canada and we have over 135,000 acres of projects across the area under consideration for the rail corridor in Ontario alone. That said, we recognize that the area directly impacted will be significantly smaller than the full area presently under review. This makes us one of the largest holders of land interests in the proposed corridor, a region which has already incurred significant wetland loss. This corridor is important for ecological connectivity and holds a number of provincially significant wetlands. 

In addition to its significance for waterfowl and other wildlife, the region delivers ecological 

services to well over ten million Canadians. We are proud to be members of the Allies Program of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI), a program aimed at strengthening our collective impact on the region’s environmental and economic vitality. The GLSLCI is a multinational coalition of over 400 municipal and regional U.S. and Canadian mayors and local 

officials working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin, integrating environmental, economic and social agendas. 

As of March 2026, it is Ducks Unlimited Canada’s understanding that Alto, a federal Crown corporation, is undertaking studies of wildlife and natural habitats along the proposed corridor between Québec City and Toronto, and the project will be subject to federal impact assessments and regulatory review. Ducks Unlimited Canada has engaged with Alto at environment-focused roundtables and are using our science, mapping, and evaluation tools to provide input on potential environmental impacts and recommendations on how these can be avoided as a priority. If they cannot be avoided, then we would seek solutions to minimize these impacts and failing that, seek mitigations as appropriate. 

We encourage individuals and organizations with an interest in the Alto project to participate in the public consultation processes led by the appropriate authorities. Here are ways for the public to participate in the process: 

• Complete the Survey 
• Provide your feedback on the interactive map 
• Attend an in person or virtual information session 
• Submit a brief 

In addition to public input being essential to helping ensure that environmental considerations are fully examined and addressed, the Alto project is also subject to impact assessments by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and by the Canadian Transportation Agency. 

We understand the project will also be subject to a number of Federal Acts including, but not limited to, Migratory Birds Convention Act 1994 and Species at Risk Act (SARA). Wetlands along the corridor provide key breeding habitat for priority species, including Mallard, American Black Duck, Wood Duck, and Common Goldeneye, as well as the federally listed species of special concern, Barrow’s Goldeneye. The corridor includes habitat for several wetland species-at-risk already threatened by habitat loss, including Blanding’s Turtle, Western Chorus Frog, Least Bittern, and Olive‑sided Flycatcher. 

Ducks Unlimited Canada understands the need to balance nature conservation with economic development. While we know they are significant, we are working to advance more standardized land-use planning tools for quantifying the full value of the ecological goods and services that wetlands provide. These include regulating services (water filtration and retention, flood mitigation, carbon storage, erosion control), supporting services (wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling), resource provision, recreational and cultural benefits. 

We will continue to support evidence-based approaches and work to influence decisions that improve conservation outcomes while balancing sustainable development needs.