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Immigration, high-speed rail and Bill 21: Where new PQ government could test Ottawa
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-07 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Quebec, Immigration, Infrastructure, Transportation, Justice, Finance, Governance]Following the Parti Québécois' provincial election victory, Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon faces key policy friction points with Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal government. The PQ intends to seek full provincial control over immigration to reduce permanent immigrants to 35,000 and halve temporary immigration quotas, oppose the federal high-speed rail project connecting Toronto to Quebec City via Montreal, and seek $4.4 billion in additional federal transfers. Additionally, the new government plans to challenge federal authority by taking steps to abolish the monarchy in Quebec and cut funding to the lieutenant-governor's office, while awaiting a crucial Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Bill 21.
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Alto high-speed rail project could cost more than originally thought: budget watchdog
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-01 14:34:52.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Quebec, Infrastructure, Transportation, Transit, Finance]A new report from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) indicates that the proposed Alto high-speed rail project connecting Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal could cost between $75 billion and $113 billion, higher than official initial estimates of $60 billion to $90 billion. The Crown corporation Alto is overseeing the corridor project, with cost drivers primarily attributed to tunnels and elevated structures, which add $169 million and $153 million per kilometre respectively. The PBO estimates the construction will provide modest economic stimulus, raising real GDP by approximately $1.8 billion in 2029 and $2 billion by 2033 while creating between 4,300 and 9,000 jobs. Federal legislation such as Bill C-5 (the One Canadian Economy Act) may help mitigate project risks, land acquisition hurdles, and permitting delays.
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