EK council rejects confidential information-sharing deal with Alto

The township says it will continue monitoring the project and advocating for residents

Elizabethtown-Kitley Township council has declined to sign a proposed confidential information-sharing agreement with Alto, the Crown corporation leading the proposed high-speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City.

Council made the decision Sept. 14 after reviewing an independent legal opinion about the agreement.

The proposed deal would have allowed the township to receive non-public information and take part in discussions about technical analysis, route planning and emerging project concepts. In return, the township would have been required to keep the information confidential.

The legal review raised concerns about the agreement, including a lack of detail about what information would be shared and limited termination provisions.

The opinion also said the agreement could restrict council from publicly discussing information received through the deal until it became public.

Elizabethtown-Kitley has previously opposed Alto's proposed rail corridor and called for alternatives using existing transportation routes, including Highway 401 and VIA Rail corridors.

The township says it will continue monitoring the project and advocating for residents.