Frontenac County – Economic Development Report & Alto Opposition
Frontenac County had a relatively light agenda for their monthly meeting on Wednesday April 15. Aside from the monthly report from CAO Kevin Farrell, Richard Allen, Manager for Economic Development (ED), presented two annual reports.
The first dealt with activities of the two member team (a third ED officer was hired last month)
While tourism related initiatives have taken a back seat for the department over the last two years because of a lack of human resources, Allen said the department continues to work with regional tourism agencies to promote the counties' destination development priorities.
“Key initiatives included the launch of the 'This is Frontenac' video campaign, development of regional itineraries, participation in cycling and motorcycle tourism promotion, and the creation of new photo and video assets to support future marketing,” he said.
In addition, the department has maintained efforts to foster local business through direct contact, a business retreat in the fall, and a weekly business email newsletter with 360 subscribers.
Through the efforts of Debbi Miller, the department has been active on the healthcare file, working on physician and nurse practitioner recruitment, in a regional context.
A second report on the K&P Trail, looked at the continuing build out of the trail in North Frontenac, including the construction of a replacement bridge over Antoine Creek, and activities devoted to tracking and enhancing use along the trail.
Trail counter data identified over 142,000 visits in 2025, and “estimates approximately $1.81 million in direct visitor spending associated with ATV riders, cyclists, and pedestrians on the trail.”
Alto Motion and Letter
Council endorsed a motion that was submitted by South Frontenac Mayor, and Deputy Warden, Ron Vandewal, based on a motion at his own council, in opposition to the Alto rail passing through Frontenac County.
The motion proposes a preferred route along “the 401 corridor” with a stop in Kingston, in line with the position that has been taken by the Mayor of Kingston, Bryan Paterson, and others.
Vandewal said that he was going to be attending a meeting on April 16, along with Paterson, with the Federal Minister of Transportation Stephen MacKinnon, about the Kingston route for the train, which has been endorsed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“I have been hearing that there is more receptiveness to this idea than there was before, at that level,” said Vandewal.
Alto is a Crown corporation that was set up with a mandate to design, build and operate a high speed rail service linking Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, with stops in Peterborough, Laval and Trois Riviere.
It has a $3.9 budget allocation for this, and the Federal Government still needs to approve funding for the construction of the project, which is estimated by the government at $60-$90 billion. The plan, as it stands now, is to build the Montreal to Ottawa leg first. ■
