Frustrated by unanswered questions and a lack of meaningful support from elected officials, two representatives of ALTNO and United Against ALTO will embark on the Long Walk to Be Heard, a five-day journey from East Hawkesbury to Ottawa.
The walk will take place November 8-12.
Kathleen O’Connell Renaud and Kristin Muller will walk from St. Eugène, East Hawkesbury along the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail before continuing into Ottawa.
They will present a petition appealing for intervention in the project and real consultation with all communities.
“We always thought it would be interesting to do something along the trail because it is such an easy walk and (the trail) is so important to the communities,” said Muller.
“We decided we were just going to do it. We’re in a bit of a lull period right now because we’re waiting for the corridor to be announced.”
The trek is intended to draw attention to a growing frustration among rural residents who feel they have been left to fight alone for answers about a project that could permanently affect their homes, farms, businesses and municipalities.
“We should not have to walk over 100 kilometres to Ottawa to be heard. But when questions go unanswered and communities feel abandoned, sometimes you have to get creative. This walk is about making sure our concerns are heard.”
Muller said she expects an announcement on the route to come at any time as behind closed doors are being held with area municipalities.
Residents are also being encouraged to deliver copies of letters they have sent to MP Giovanna Mingarelli that have gone unanswered or have not received substantive responses.
They point to a July 9 meeting at which Mingarelli discussed the possibility of bringing the federal Minister of Agriculture to meet with affected residents. According to the organizers, there has been no follow-up since that discussion.
“An MP’s responsibility is to represent the people who elected her, especially when their homes, livelihoods and communities may be at stake,” Muller said. “Residents deserve answers, meaningful engagement and visible advocacy, not silence.”
The walk ends on Nov. 12 with the presentation of the petition in Ottawa and residents are welcome to join the walk for any portion of the route or meet the walkers at scheduled stops.
“We are walking because our communities matter. Our farms matter. Our voices matter. And we will not accept being ignored,” she added.
For more information visit https://www.unitedagainstalto.ca/longwalk.
***With files from Lee Griffi
