Lanark County Council Highlights – March 25, 2026

Press Release – Lanark County 

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held March 25, 2026.

Council Expresses Opposition to ALTO

Lanark County Council is supporting a resolution from the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) expressing opposition to the ALTO high-speed rail project in its current form. Warden Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve) moved the motion at the EOWC and stated he felt it was important to bring it directly to County Council.

ALTO is a federal government high-speed passenger rail project between Quebec City and Toronto that has been identified as a national building project. It is estimated to cost between $60 and $90 billion and would cut through eastern Ontario with only one proposed stop.

On March 19, the EOWC passed a resolution noting the project would be “benefitting urban residents at the cost of rural residents and lands,” and would affect communities, infrastructure, residential and agricultural lands, municipal trails and environmentally sensitive areas “with no long-term economic benefits.”

The resolution highlights issues such as the closure and/or dead-ending of roads causing significant and unknown costs to municipalities and with implications for service delivery and emergency response. It cites a lack of sufficient detailed information about potential local impact to land use, the environment, municipal infrastructure and long-term financial or operational implications. The EOWC and its member municipalities are actively trying to engage with ALTO to understand the impacts.

The EOWC states it opposes the project “based on concerns related to insufficient municipal consultation, unclear rural and small-urban impacts, potential environmental effects, and alignments with existing eastern Ontario planning and infrastructure priorities.” It urges stakeholders to share questions and comments with ALTO and federal representatives, and pledges to gather more detailed information. It is also advocating for full exploration of train route options along existing infrastructure corridors, such as VIA Rail and/or Highway 401. 

The resolution is to be circulated to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford, various federal and provincial ministers, ALTO representatives, and several federal and provincial associations.

For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Recruitment and Settlement Services Project Updates Received

Lanark County Council received an update on initiatives that have been completed or are ongoing related to the Rural Inclusion Pilot Project, which is a three-year program ending March 31, and Lanark and Renfrew Immigrant Settlement Services (LRISS), which began last year and ends in 2028.

The Rural Inclusion project is 50 per cent funded through a Rural Economic Development Grant and is in partnership with Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation and Renfrew County. It provides Lanark County employers with 200 dedicated spaces in the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to help fill labour shortages, as well as connections for businesses to receive assistance through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. 

Settlement and Recruitment Coordinator Linda Alexander highlighted successes of the program as it draws to a close. She indicated a goal of the program was to attract workers while addressing needed settlement supports.

“By building on municipal connections and pooling our resources, we built trust and created a stronger regional partnership that allowed us to achieve far more collectively than we ever could alone,” she said.

The pilot project featured the shared coordination role to bring together partners, connect directly with newcomers and work with businesses to address labour needs. Alexander outlined a range of presentations, information sessions, community meetings and events that took place, including Multicultural Food Fairs, direct assistance with newcomers, the award-winning Land in Lanark Campaign, grant applications, and diversity, equity and inclusion trainings. A key component was to strengthen retention through settlement for newcomers who were attracted to the area.

Alexander noted the pilot laid the foundation for formal settlement services in Lanark and Renfrew, provided data to help secure more funding and connected with more than 380 newcomers. She highlighted successes in collaboration, the rural model, economic development through settlement, the value of authentic digital attraction, community initiatives and data gathering.

The LRISS project is also in partnership with Renfrew County and is 90 per cent funded by the federal Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Coordinator Adam Amza explained the program delivers targeted, no-cost programs that help eligible newcomers successfully settle, integrate and thrive in communities. Amza outlined barriers and challenges related to language, system navigation and adjustment, and the ways LRISS supports newcomers and works with partners. They offer needs and assets assessments, information and orientation sessions, employment services, community connections and settlement workers in schools. The program has supported clients from eleven diverse countries and cultures.

So far, LRISS has delivered support across its core services streams and has conducted numerous community initiatives, including informal language learning activities, mentorship and youth support, citizenship preparation programs, tax awareness sessions and employment-focused sessions. The program has been supported by about 20 active volunteers.

“These stories show settlement is longitudinal, not one-time support,” Amza said. “Coordination across systems is essential. Trust and consistency are critical, especially in rural settings.” He added settlement services contribute to family stability, school success, workforce participation and community cohesion. 

Both projects were supported by the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) Lanark & Renfrew, which encouraged partnerships, project development and gathering data to address workforce challenges.

For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Upcoming Meetings

• County Council, Wednesday, April 8, 5 p.m.
• Community Services, April 8 (following County Council)
• Corporate Services, April 8 (following Community Services)
• County Council, Wednesday, April 22, 5 p.m.
• Public Works, April 22 (following County Council)
• Economic Development, April 22 (following Public Works)

Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Instagram.