On February 19, 2025, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—sarcastically dubbed “Governor Trudeau” by U.S. President Donald Trump—announced a bold $3.9 billion, six-year plan to construct a high-speed electric train linking Toronto to Montreal, with extensions to Quebec City. Branded as “Alto,” this ambitious infrastructure project promises to slash travel time between the two major cities to three hours, using all-electric trains capable of reaching speeds up to 300 km/h. Trudeau pitched it as an economic boon, claiming it would employ thousands and modernize Canada’s transportation network, all while sidestepping any consultation with POTUS Trump. This unilateral move comes despite Trump’s repeated taunts that Canada could become America’s 51st state, a notion he’s floated as a solution to trade deficits and border security disputes, raising eyebrows about Trudeau’s defiance in the face of such rhetoric.
 

The lack of Trump’s approval for this rail project underscores a growing tension between Trudeau’s vision and the looming specter of U.S. influence, especially as Canada’s political landscape teeters on uncertainty. Trump has repeatedly suggested—sometimes jokingly, sometimes not—that Canada’s economic reliance on the U.S., coupled with his threatened 25% tariffs, makes statehood a viable option. If Canada were to become the 51st state, a federally funded project like Alto could fall under U.S. jurisdiction, potentially requiring Washington’s green light. Trudeau’s decision to forge ahead without even a nod to Trump could be seen as a final act of sovereignty from a leader on his way out, announced just weeks before his resignation takes effect on March 9, 2025. Yet, it risks inflaming an already testy relationship, with Trump’s administration set to take office in January, possibly viewing this as a provocation from a “Governor” he’s mocked relentlessly.
 

Complicating matters further is the very real possibility of Quebec splitting off as a distinct entity—potentially America’s 52nd state—adding another layer of chaos to Trudeau’s rail dream. Quebec, with its unique cultural identity and history of separatist sentiment, has been a wildcard in Trump’s statehood musings; he once quipped that Canada could be divided into conservative and liberal states. The Alto project includes stops in Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City, knitting Quebec tightly into the plan, yet it’s unclear how a separatist Quebec would align with or reject this Toronto-centric initiative. Trudeau’s refusal to address these hypotheticals—or seek Trump’s input—might embolden Quebec nationalists, who could see U.S. annexation as a path to autonomy, or at least a bargaining chip. As Canada barrels toward a post-Trudeau era, with Trump’s shadow looming large, the high-speed train could either symbolize national unity or become a lightning rod in a fracturing federation.