Majority of Canadians say high-speed rail project would go overbudget

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to cancel the high-speed rail project as a new Leger poll found 72 per cent of Canadians are worried it will go overbudget.

“Canadians know the Carney government’s cost estimate for high-speed rail is unrealistic,” said Noah Jarvis, CTF Ontario Director. “The project is unaffordable at the current budget and everyone knows it’s destined to go overbudget.

The federal government is planning to build a high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City that it says will cost $60 to $90 billion to build.

The Leger poll commissioned by the CTF found a majority of Canadians are not confident the government can build its high-speed rail line within the $60 to $90 billion estimate.

Results of the poll show:

• 72 per cent of Canadians are not at all, or not very, confident the project would stay on budget
• 28 per cent of Canadians are somewhat or very confident it will stay on budget

Most Canadians of all age and gender groups doubt Alto high-speed rail will stay within a budget of $60 to $90 billion.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates Alto high-speed rail could cost $75 to $113 billion in a recently released report. That’s up to $23 billion more than the government’s high-end estimate for Alto.

The PBO’s cost estimate does not include a possible eighth Alto stop in Kingston. A Kingston stop could cost up to $6.7 billion in extra costs, using the PBO’s cost per kilometre figures.

“Canadians can’t afford a big rail boondoggle that will drive up government debt and interest charges for taxpayers,” Jarvis said. “Carney needs to save taxpayer money and cancel the Alto high-speed rail project.”

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For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact:

Noah Jarvis
CTF Ontario Director
Phone: 647.523.1450
Email: njarvis@taxpayer.com
X (formerly Twitter): @noahrjarvis

Canadian Taxpayers Federation