Ottawa-Montreal High-Speed Rail Leg to Add Up to 9,000 Jobs and Boost GDP

Construction on the Ottawa-Montreal leg of Canada’s proposed high-speed rail network will add up to 9,000 jobs by its fifth year and boost real GDP by $1.8 billion in 2029, according to a report released Thursday, Oct. 1, by the parliamentary budget officer. The project aims to connect Toronto to Quebec City, with the Ottawa-Montreal segment chosen as the first stretch to move forward.

Building the Ottawa-Montreal Segment First

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced in December 2025 that the Ottawa-Montreal corridor would serve as the starting point for the country’s first high-speed rail network. The segment spans approximately 200 kilometres across two provinces, allowing teams to start working simultaneously so local communities see benefits sooner. The parliamentary budget officer estimated that the initial year of construction in 2029 would create 4,300 jobs in the region, scaling up to 9,000 jobs by the fifth year. Real GDP increases for the corridor are projected at $1.8 billion in the opening year, rising to $2 billion by 2033.

Budget Officer Estimates Project Costs up to 113 Billion

The parliamentary budget officer estimated the cost of the entire multi-billion-dollar project at between $75 and $113 billion, presenting a higher floor and ceiling than the federal government’s estimate of $60 to $90 billion. PBO Annette Ryan noted the assessment provides Parliament with an independent view of construction costs and economic impacts for one of Canada’s largest proposed infrastructure projects. Alto’s cost estimate of up to $106 million per kilometre places the project near the middle of a sample of nearly 100 high-speed rail projects worldwide. The parliamentary budget officer report also described the Ottawa-Montreal stretch as relatively straightforward due to the lowlands surrounding the Ottawa River, noting that its terrain is broadly comparable to European rail lines crossing flat countryside, aside from a potential tunnel in Montreal.

Alto Schedules Public Consultations Amid Landowner Opposition

Alto, the Crown corporation leading the project alongside a multinational group of companies including AtkinsRéalis, Air Canada, CDPQ Infra, SYSTRA Canada, Keolis Canada, and SNCF Voyageurs, scheduled a comprehensive three-month consultation process beginning in January 2026. The public engagement initiative includes open houses, virtual sessions, and an online platform designed to gather feedback on the corridor under study. Meanwhile, numerous landowners along the proposed route have vocally opposed the project since its announcement, raising concerns regarding rural land destruction and expropriation.

Proceeding Toward Construction in 2029

The fully-electrified rail line is planned to span roughly 1,000 kilometres from Toronto to Quebec City with stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Laval, Montreal, and Trois-Rivières, operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h to cut current travel times in half. Construction on the Ottawa-Montreal leg remains on schedule to begin in 2029, while Alto continues to engage Indigenous communities, municipalities, and public institutions regarding design, environmental studies, and long-term operations.