For the past several years, our community has been extremely concerned about the impacts of CN seeking to locate its proposed truck-rail hub in a location beside Milton’s long approved intensely populated residential neighbourhoods. I am extremely disappointed to share that on January 21, 2021, the Federal Government ignored expert advice on significant harm to the health of these residents by approving CN’s project. This is the first time in Canadian history that a Federal Review Panel has determined that a project will have significant adverse effects on human health that cannot be mitigated. It is unconscionable that the Federal Government would approve this project despite findings from an independent and expert panel that the project will cause significant adverse effects on human and environmental health.
Since this project was proposed by CN, we have been clear about our concerns for the Halton community. The location for the project is within one kilometer of approximately 34,000 current and future residents, one hospital, twelve schools and two long-term care homes, and the facility will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week—resulting in at least 1,600 new trips to and from the facility each day by heavy-duty container trucks.
The significant health effects that will be caused by this project are unavoidable. This includes the release of particulate matter (PM2.5) that is unsafe at any level of exposure and will cause significant adverse effects on human health in the community. The Federal Review Panel also concluded that than 200 mitigation conditions were required to avoid other significant adverse effects from this project, but only a handful of these conditions are enforceable by the Federal Government. It is the unenviable distinction of this Federal Government that it is the first Cabinet that has ever approved a project that will cause such effects on human health.
There are also many unanswered questions about what CN plans to do with the remaining 800 acres after it builds its new 400-acre facility. The Halton Municipalities will review Cabinet’s decision and will continue to work with the community and be their voice on this issue.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation process and provided their input for the government’s consideration by signing petitions, attending town hall meetings, making phone calls and writing letters to local MPPs and MPs. I’d also like to thank all of Halton’s Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament for their support and sharing our common concerns with this project, particularly Milton MP Adam van Koeverden, whose involvement has been imperative throughout this process. This truly has been a non-partisan effort that has united our community.
To learn more about the proposed project and our position, please visit
halton.ca/CN.