If Canada’s Minister of Transport wasn’t already aware of the level of opposition against the planned Alto high-speed rail project in the Peterborough area, he is now.

A large and quite vocal crowd of protesters greeted Steven MacKinnon when he arrived late Friday morning (May 8) to speak at an event hosted by the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce in their office at the former CPR station building on George Street in downtown Peterborough.

To his credit, on his arrival, Minister MacKinnon stopped to chat at length with Alto plan detractors, hearing out their concerns, answering their questions, and providing his take on some aspects of the project.

Transport Minister: Alto will try to minimize impact on agricultural land

“One of the reasons I’m in Peterborough today is to understand the full measure of folks’ views on this project — people from the urban area and outside,” MacKinnon said later.

“Anyone who shows up to meet a federal minister should be able to express themselves directly. You want to be open to hearing their arguments. You want to address the fears that they may have, and take those into account as decisions get made.”

Inside, where he was joined by Peterborough MP Emma Harrison, MacKinnon provided an update on the planned 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail line that, when completed, will connect Toronto and Quebec City with a station stop in or near Peterborough.

Referencing “an overarching obligation to keep the country united,” MacKinnon said the high-speed rail line will not only connect two distinct Canadian regions, but will stimulate economic development along its corridor, create thousands of jobs via its construction and, in the case of Peterborough, allow young people to live here while working or going to school elsewhere.

Acknowledging the concerns of farmers and rural communities objecting to the project, he said the rail line “will cut through some agricultural land.”

“We’re going to try and minimize that, and when it does cut through agricultural land, we’re going to try and make it so it’s at end of the field, not in the middle of the field. There will be places where we run into some difficulty (traversing agricultural land). That’s inevitable, but we want to do this respectfully. We want to do (the rail line alignment) by listening.”

More public consultation will follow fall decision to narrow 10-kilometre corridor to 60-metre route

MacKinnon said, come this fall, the proposed final alignment will be subject to further public consultations.

“We are, in some ways, into the hardest part of the project because all we have is a conception,” he said. “We have a very wide corridor and, in the case of Peterborough, we actually have a choice of two corridors. We have to make a decision on that and then, within that decision, make a decision on the specific alignment.”

During the public consultation process that took place from January to April, Alto presented a potential 10-kilometre-wide corridor where the 60-metre-wide route for train would be located, with both a northern and southern option for the corridor.

MacKinnon said the consultation process, both past and future, “can raise as many questions as it answers.”

“This is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever contemplated in our country,” he said.

“We want to hear from the local landowner where there might be a rural road that is an ambulance route or an access issue or a wildlife corridor — local knowledge that will help inform the final (alignment) decision.”

“As Minister of Transport, I very much want Alto to do its work and do it professionally and as comprehensively as possible. I, meanwhile, am meeting with as many folks along the (proposed) route as I can. Today is part of that.”

Beyond a new round of public consultation events once the proposed final alignment is determined, MacKinnon said the environmental assessment process will provide yet more opportunity for public scrutiny and input.

‘Have patience with us as we go through this painful planning stage’

Responding to an audience question, MacKinnon confirmed the route will be 60 metres wide, admitting an earlier published map showing the 10-kilometre-wide corridor that would contain the route has been “a source of concern because you’re catching a lot of property.”

“The corridor is the limits within which the alignment would be placed,” he said, adding “The choice of alignment — the route, if you will — will happen this fall and be a maximum 60-metres-wide (route), other than the stations of course.”

In response to another question, MacKinnon addressed specifically the measures that will be taken to mitigate the impact on a property should the train route traverse it. For example, the route would be located at the outer limit of the property while ensuring access to bordering roads and ensuring accommodation for any wildlife in the area.

Another audience member asked why the high-speed rail project isn’t subject to a referendum to “put (it) to the people.” To that, MacKinnon said “Direct democracy on projects is a pretty tough thing to do.”

“Let me submit to you that this is a vastly popular project numerically,” he added. “What we’re up to now is more democratic: to try and do it the right way, to try and do it by listening to folks like you and the knowledge you bring, and make the accommodations necessary.”

“I understand that it will be a disruption but one that is, quite literally, for the greater good. There will be a greater good. Is it expensive? Yes, but you said the word legacy. It is a legacy; it’s a legacy we can pass on to our kids and our grandkids.”

MacKinnon added the high-speed rail line “arguably should have been done when the Japanese did it in the 1970s, when this technology was first perfected. We’d all be happy and on it now.”

He noted some of the benefits of high-speed rail for both mobility and tourism.

“Your kids will want to use this train. They will want to go to a Blue Jays game. They will want to come to Ottawa and visit a museum. They will want to go to Montreal. They’ll want to have that mobility while living in an incredible community like this one.”

MacKinnon asked that people “judge us on the project as it is.”

“Have patience with us as we go through this painful planning stage. We’ll deal with the concerns as they come. I think we’ll be really proud when this project is built, and that we were able to build it together.”

Transport Minister fails to assuage protester concerns

However well intended, MacKinnon’s assurances did little to soothe the angst of those protesting close by — a large group that was still on hand when the minister departed,
Maria Thorburn among them.

“This should be planned far better,” she told kawarthaNOW. “They’ve had quite a bit of time. (Former Peterborough MP) Dean Del Mastro first suggested this a long time ago. Now the Liberals have adopted it.”

“There are nine professors from Carleton University (in Ottawa) who have opposed this, saying this could cause an ecological disaster when this is purportedly to combat CO2 emissions. To replace one environmental problem with another doesn’t make any sense.”

Another bone of contention, said Thorburn, is “terrible” communication.

“They have hired 36 communications directors and two scientists,” she claims, adding “That shows you their priorities.”

Among those in the minister’s audience was Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, city councillor Kevin Duguay, City of Peterborough economic development director Daryl Julott, and Rebecca Schillemat, one of five declared candidates to date for Peterborough mayor in this coming fall’s municipal election.

Also on hand was Peterborough MP Emma Harrison, who helped field audience questions. Afterwards, she acknowledged there are presently more questions than answers about the project and that has added to some people’s frustration.

“I completely understand people’s fears and concerns, especially from the agricultural side of things,” she said.

“People are being incredibly patient with waiting for answers. There was, unfortunately, a lot of misinformation spread initially. Our job now, and Alto’s job, is to combat that and make sure people feel their voices are being heard — that they’re being consulted.”

“The people who will by the most impacted will have a one-on-one approach from Alto,” Harrison added.

This story has been updated with a correction: the former rail station in Peterborough was operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and not the Canadian National Railway Company (CN).

A real estate management company’s appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) of Peterborough city council’s decision denying its application to convert rental units into condominiums has moved forward a step, but a hearing date has not yet been set as the two parties haven’t agreed on the key issues of the case.

Lawyers for Burlington-based Simple Investor Real Estate Group (SIREG) and the City of Peterborough attended an OLT case management conference, held virtually, on Thursday (May 7).

Led by OLT vice-chair Shannon Braun, the conference included city solicitor Scott Seabrooke, the city’s director of planning, development and urban design Brad Appleby, city planner Ian Walker, and city councillor Matt Crowley, in whose ward the townhouse complex is located, as well as lawyer Matthew A. Di Vona representing SIREG. Only Braun, Seabrooke, and Di Vona spoke during the conference.

City cited rental stock and affordable housing concerns in denying application

In June 2025, SIREG submitted a completed draft plan of condominium to the city to convert rental units at 700 Parkhill Road West into condominiums. Four years ago, the company purchased the property known as Parkhill Place, which consists of 10 two-storey residential townhomes comprising 128 three-bedroom units.

In its application to the city, SIREG noted it would continue to maintain the property but sell the three-bedroom units to private investors, with existing tenants continuing to rent the units from the new owners.

On December 1, city council meeting as general committee held a public meeting under the Planning Act where they considered a staff report that recommended council reject SIREG’s application.

City planner Ian Walker advised council that approving the conversion would result in the potential long-term loss of 17 per cent of the city’s stock of three-bedroom rental units and doesn’t guarantee continued affordable rent rates or affordable purchase prices for the units.

At that meeting, council voted to support the staff recommendation, subsequently ratifying that decision at a city council meeting on December 8. Both votes carried by a unanimous vote of 11-0. SIREG lawyer Jasdeep Dhillon spoke to council at the December 8 meeting and said there was “a good possibility” SIREG would appeal to OLT if council ratified its earlier decision.

SIREG filed its appeal the following month.

Purpose of case management conference is to address procedural issues

On Thursday, Braun explained that the purpose of a case management conference “is simply to address procedural issues and organize for a hearing on the merits that will come later.”

Procedural issues include the possibility of settlement and mediation discussions, identification of issues, a draft procedural order, the possible start date and duration of the hearing, and directions for filing of witness lists, expert witness statements, and written evidence ahead of a hearing.

“We are not here today to debate the merits of the application, but to accomplish goals such as determining the length of any hearing that might be required or subsequent hearing events, agreeing on issues for a future hearing on the merits, and dealing with status requests,” Braun said.

She noted that OLT had received a participant request from Jen Lacey, a tenant at 700 Parkhill who is opposed to SIREG’s application.

She described some of Lacey’s concerns with the application, including that existing tenants will not be able to stay in their units, that 40 per cent of the units are deemed affordable housing, that any new tenants following conversion would not have protection from eviction, that the application is not providing any new housing in the city, and that the 128 units proposed to be converted represent 17 per cent of three-bedroom units in the city and, if converted, would have a negative impact on the rental housing market.

Confirming with Di Vona and Seabrooke they had no objection to Lacey’s request, Braun granted her participant status, “as the tribunal is satisfied that she has a genuine interest in the proceedings and that her statement can help the tribunal to adjudicate on the issues for a future merit hearing.”

Braun asked if the two parties had discussed either settling some of the issues in dispute or scoping them out, and if they were aware of the opportunity for tribunal-led mediation.

After Di Vona and Seabrooke advised they had had meetings but had not reached a settlement and did not require mediation, Braun moved on to whether the parties had agreed upon the identification of issues, which she called the “issues list.”

Disagreements over issues list and hearing transcript stall hearing date

Di Vona told Braun that the two parties had not reached consensus on the issues list, noting the city’s list broadly identified that SIREG’s condo conversion application did not conform with the city’s official plan, but did not provide details as to why.

While acknowledging she hadn’t seen the most recent version of the issues list from Seabrooke, Braun said she preferred the list from Di Vona because it was more specific and encouraged the two parties to continue to work together to come to agreement on the issues list, which has to be approved by the tribunal.

She said it is insufficient for the city to claim SIREG’s application doesn’t conform with the city’s official plan without providing specifics.

“To say ‘Does this conform with the official plan?’ … doesn’t help the tribunal in terms of understanding what it’s going to hear and who it’s going to hear from,” said Braun, with the latter referring to expert witneesses on specific issues.

After Di Vona asked if a hearing date could be scheduled, Braun said she was “not inclined to set a hearing date” until there was consent between both parties on the issues list.

Di Vona asked that it be “put on the record” that the delay in setting a hearing date was “caused by the city’s inadequate issues list,” noting that his client had held several meetings with city staff as well as with experts to develop its list.

Seabrooke said he took “umbrage” with Di Vona’s comment, noting that Di Vona only provided his client’s issues list a week or two before the case management conference,

Braun said it was not unusual at this stage of the appeal process for parties to be in disagreement over an issues list and they should allow some time to reach consensus. She added that a second case management conference could be avoided and a hearing date could be set if the parties can reach conensus.

“I’m not opposed to having both counsel provide your availability for a hearing should you be able to arrive at an issues list and submit on consent,” she said.

Seabrooke asked how many days of availability would be required for a hearing, with Braun responding that determing that without having a confirmed issues list was like “trying to shoot in the dark.”

“When I look at the draft procedural order that I have in front of me, I’ve got an estimate of 20 days. Had I had an issues list on consent here today, I would have been asking some questions about those 20 days, the number of witnesses to be called, and the disciplines of those witnesses. We’re flying blind.”

Seabrooke raised another point of contention between the parties in the draft procedural order, which is the city’s intention to hire a court reporter at its own expense to transcribe the hearing verbatim.

Braun noted that the OLT usually does not allow recording of hearings, and that the city would need to make a request to the tribunal to do so. She asked if SIREG was agreeable to the request.

Di Von said he would consent to the recording of the hearing proceedings only if the city agreed to provide a copy of the transcript. Seabrooke objected to that condition, saying the city would not necessarily be ordering a copy of the transcript from the recording.

Second case management conference set for June if parties don’t reach an agreement

As the conference wrapped up, Braun summarized that there was no agreement between the two parties on either the issues list or a transcript of the hearing and encouraged them to continue to work through the disagreements, noting that both parties could consult via email with the tribunal for guidance.

Braun asked the two parties to provide their availability for a date for a second case management conference should it be necessary, with Thursday, June 11 set as that date.

She also asked the parties whether they could provide an issues list on consent by May 19, which they agreed to attempt to do. She said the June 11 case management conference would likely proceed if the issues list was not provided by May 19, although she noted it was not a hard deadline and the parties could continue to work to reach consensus after that date.

Braun said that if the parties can reach consensus before the June 11 case management conference, it will not be required and they can ask for hearing dates to be set. She noted that the parties should request hearing dates “well enough into the future” to accommodate potential motions before the hearing, so that any motions do not consume time at the hearing.

The transformative investments made at Fleming College over the past year are an inspiring reminder of the impact community philanthropy can have on student success today and for future generations.

On Thursday, April 30, Fleming College alumni, donors, faculty, and governors gathered at the Sutherland Campus in Peterborough for a Community Impact & Appreciation Event.

The celebration saw remarks from Fleming leaders and a guided tour of some of the investments that were made possible thanks to the generosity of the community.

A record year of giving supports Fleming’s future

“The very best colleges have engaged and supportive communities, and that is certainly the case here at Fleming,” said Don Gillespie, Chair of the Board of Governors. “This is a time of both significant change and immense opportunity for Fleming College.”

In 2025-26, Fleming College benefited from a record-breaking year for philanthropy, with donor support totalling an impressive $3.57 million in new gifts and commitments. These gifts are already being invested to empower student success and solidify the future of the college by supporting scholarships, enhancing student life on campus, and strengthening in-demand programming.

This comes during a time when colleges across Ontario are facing significant challenges stemming from declining student enrolment, rising costs of program delivery, and shifts in government policy, all on top of continued inflation that also affects students and their access to education.

A commitment to accessible education and student success

Despite these challenges, Interim President of Fleming College Dr. Theresa Knott noted that Fleming students remain highly sought after, particularly in high-demand sectors like healthcare and skilled trades. She added that the school’s integration with St. Lawrence College reflects the opportunity to respond to the challenges with more impact.

“Together, we can expand access, strengthen programming, and enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of students, employers, and communities across a broader region,” Knott said. “We’re very pleased to be integrating as equal partners with a college that is similar to Fleming in so many ways. Both Fleming and St. Lawrence are institutions with strong community roots, shared values, and a commitment to student success.”

Fleming’s commitment to student success is being supported by generous donors, including the Joyce Family Foundation, whose $1.5 million gift allowed the college to establish its largest-ever endowed fund for student tuition assistance in 2025.

In April, Fleming College also announced its first-ever Entrance Scholarship Program to provide bursaries for full-time domestic students, including mature learners and returning alumni and students in health and skilled trades programs. The program is being funded in part by donors, including contributions to the Fleming Forward Fund, which has reached $110,000.

Additional support was given to fuel program innovation and development through new equipment, simulation technology, and investments in Hy-Flex classrooms. The Student Administrative Council made a generous investment in student athletics.

Donor Kerri Davies: From mature Practical Nursing student to community leader

One such donor is Fleming alumna and Board of Governors member Kerri Davies, who has made a commitment to helping future students because she feels Fleming was “foundational” to her decades-long career in healthcare and strongly believes in the college’s future.

That’s why Davies has made plans for a legacy gift to Fleming College to support mature students enrolled in the college’s Practical Nursing program, from which she herself graduated in 1992.

“Kerri Davies’ story reflects the lifelong relationship our alumni have with Fleming, and how a transformative student experience can evolve into a career defined by leadership, compassion, and impact,” said Katie Pezoulas, Fleming College’s Executive Director of Advancement and External Relations. “We are very grateful for her gift and confidence in Fleming College.”

Over three decades ago, Davies was a mother of three looking to get back into the workforce after running an at-home daycare. She applied for a position at Fairhaven long-term care facility, where she had worked previously as a healthcare attendant, only to discover the educational requirements for personal support workers had changed. She immediately drove to Fleming College to explore her options and ultimately enrolled in the part-time Registered Nursing (RN) program.

“I thought it was brilliant that they started the part-time RN program,” Davies said. “It allowed adults who were working, either in other careers or at home with their families, an opportunity to get advancement and career opportunities.”

In 1991, she enrolled in Fleming’s full-time two-year Practical Nursing program. After graduating at the top of her class, she was immediately hired for two part-time jobs at the Civic Hospital (now Peterborough Regional Health Centre) and the Victorian Order of Nurses. For the next several years, she worked as a nurse in a range of settings, including at Fairhaven – a full-circle moment in her career as Davies began her working life at that facility, alongside her father who had been an orderly.

Those roles led her to her first administrative position in the healthcare sector, when she became the Executive Director of AON’s Royal Gardens Retirement Home and, when AON opened the doors to Canterbury Gardens in 2009, they hired Davies as the inaugural Executive Director.

“It was less than eight years from my graduation and I was able to put together, through my experience and from my nursing diploma from Fleming College, a resume that positioned me for leadership,” Davies said. “I went from being a community nurse, a hospital nurse, and a long-term care nurse to helping others in their careers.”

That included partnering with Fleming College to create opportunities for nursing students to do their placements in real settings.

“It helped us break down some of the stereotypes nursing students had about the experience of working in a retirement home,” she said. “Almost all of my senior team were Fleming graduates, and almost all of them came through a job placement.”

Her successful career earned Davies the Alumni Distinction Award from Fleming College as well as a Premier’s Award nomination in 2009, a City of Peterborough Civic Award in 2001, and the Business Woman of the Year Award in 2014. As an exemplary alumna and community leader, Davies was asked to join the Fleming College Board of Governors in 2020.

As for her legacy gift, Davies said she wanted to give back to the college that helped launch her career in a way that reflects her own life experience.

“I wanted to help other people in my situation, whether they’re a mother returning to the workplace or someone laid off and trying to redefine himself in a career,” she said. “I’m very confident in the future of Fleming.”

Showcasing how donor investments are making an impact

During the April 30 event, attendees participated in a tour of the School of Health and Community Services, where guests experienced how expanded healthcare programs, flexible delivery, and simulation-based learning is playing a key role in producing the in-demand healthcare talent needed in our community, region, and province.

Nick Stone, Associate Vice President of Applied Health, explained how fully immersive lab spaces with 360-degree projections and customizable interactive touchpoints provide students preparing for careers in firefighting, nursing, and policing with practice scenarios they will encounter in the real world.

Fleming is building on its longstanding suite of healthcare programs, with recent additions includings Respiratory Therapy in 2023 and Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography in fall 2026. In addition to producing more talent, Fleming is embedding principles of resilience training into all healthcare programming to ensure graduates are equipped to face increasingly challenging environments

Philanthropic support will bring this vision to life and will continue to enhance student success and strengthen Fleming’s future.

“It was a joy to welcome supporters and community leaders to campus and showcase how our innovative, simulation-based learning and expanded healthcare programs are preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals,” Pezoulas said. “It is an exciting time, and we are grateful to have support as we move forward.”

To support the future of Fleming College by donating to the Fleming Forward Fund, visit flemingcollege.ca/fleming-forward.

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