Toronto – The Federal Government’s announcement to build Canada’s first high-speed rail line from Quebec City to Toronto has generated mixed reactions. While many celebrate this historic infrastructure investment, critics argue the plan doesn’t go far enough. Notably, Kingston—a city with affordable housing and significant academic and medical resources—has been left off the proposed stops, raising questions about missed opportunities for broader provincial impact.
With the GTA’s average home price at $1.1 million, housing affordability remains a crisis. Including Kingston, where the average home price is in the $500,000s, could significantly alleviate housing pressures by offering a feasible commuting option for GTA residents. At high-speed rail’s potential pace, Kingston would be less than an hour from Toronto, creating new real estate opportunities for families and professionals seeking relief from the city’s sky-high housing costs.
Moreover, Kingston’s strategic significance extends beyond housing. Home to Queen’s University and a leading medical center, the city could foster a research and academic corridor if connected to other institutions like Trent University in Peterborough as well as Ottawa and Toronto’s universities. This vision aligns with GTA Weekly’s ambitious High-Speed Ontario Network proposal, which calls for a comprehensive high-speed rail system spanning the province. The plan advocates for future lines connecting Toronto to Windsor, Sudbury and North Bay, building a truly integrated network to support economic growth, academic collaboration, and housing relief.
The proposed line’s inclusion of Peterborough is a step in the right direction, acknowledging the need for broader regional connections. However, urban planners and policy analysts argue that Ontario should aim higher. “This project should lay the foundation for a province-wide high-speed network,” said a regional transit advocate. “Connecting Windsor, North Bay and Sudbury would drive economic development and make housing more affordable for thousands.”
GTA Weekly’s vision also emphasizes that a comprehensive high-speed rail system could help decongest major urban centers. With fast, reliable transit extending deep into the province, pressure on the GTA’s housing and transportation infrastructure could be significantly reduced. Experts suggest that a rail network linking Ontario’s major economic hubs would boost productivity, reduce environmental impact, and give residents real alternatives to crowded highways.
As planning for the initial phase continues, many are calling for the federal government to think long-term. Ontario’s future growth hinges on strategic infrastructure investment, and a fully connected high-speed rail system could be the game-changer the province needs.
Pie in the sky. This will never be built. Anywhere. Environmental studies plus land acquisition costs (rights of way must be very wide for high-speed rail vs today’s narrow rights of way for freight and VIA trains — look at Europe) will kill it before one foot of track is laid. The feds record on efficient procurement is kinda iffy at best. Imagine what they’ll do with this project if it ever got that far.
So reading this as someone who lives in Kingston it sounds like having the train come here is a bad thing. We do not need more people trying to live in Kingston, raising the costs. Our housing is not “affordable”.