Budget watchdog says Alto rail construction could cost more than Ottawa predicts

OTTAWA — The federal budget watchdog, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), has warned that the proposed high-speed rail line, Alto, between Toronto and Québec City might cost more than initially anticipated by the government. The PBO released a report, estimating the project's cost to be between $75 billion and $113 billion, significantly higher than the government's projected range of $60 billion to $90 billion.

The PBO attributes the higher estimate to uncertainties encountered in large infrastructure projects and the engineering challenges posed by traversing the Canadian Shield. The cost projections do not include the potential addition of a stop in Kingston, which could further increase the expense and complexity of the project. Furthermore, the federal Conservative party has criticized the Liberal proposal as a costly "boondoggle," while members of the Bloc Québécois express concern over the project's speed and proper consideration.