As a person that has watched, for over 30 years, Canada's inability to modernize its passenger rail system, it gets monotonous hearing the same old arguments. Lately, I have heard some state, "Now is not the time" for high-speed rail. Yep, heard that one for thirty years! Unfortunately, not having modern high-speed rail has resulted in Canada having a passenger rail system that is in decline.  For these people, a five-plus-hour train trip between Toronto and Montreal—plagued by regular delays—is somehow tolerable. The regression is remarkable when you consider that the same route took four hours in the 1970s. This recent skepticism about Canada's Alto high-speed rail project misses the forest for the trees. While caution about major infrastructure investments is prudent, dismissing this transformational project ignores compelling economic realities, misrepresents comparative priorities, and underestimates what modern nations require to remain competitive in the 21st...