On Tuesday, March 10, the Halton Municipalities met with the Federal Government in Ottawa to voice their strong concerns about the location of CN’s proposed truck-rail hub in Milton. They shared their united position that the significant adverse environmental effects on human health are paramount, and CN’s proposal is not justified for the proposed location.
“I would like to thank the members of the Prime Minister’s Office, The Honourable Mark Garneau and his staff for meeting with the Halton Municipalities on this important issue” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “I would also like to thank all of Halton’s Members of Parliament for their support of our collective position that this project cannot be justified if it will harm the health of tens of thousands of Canadians. We will continue to work with our MPs to urge the Federal Cabinet to refuse approval of the project in the proposed location.”
The Halton Municipalities presented decision-makers with five critical reasons why the significant effects of the project cannot be justified. All five reasons rely heavily on the information provided to the Federal Government by the Review Panel that released its report on January 27, 2020. These reasons provide extensive detail on the range of the Project’s significant effects and why the Cabinet should refuse approval of the truck-rail hub at the proposed location.
While in Ottawa, the Halton Municipalities also met with Halton’s MPs and co-hosted a press conference with Milton MP Adam van Koeverden to publicly share the community’s concerns. Wellington-Halton MP Michael Chong rose during question period in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon to reinforce the Panel’s findings and ask the Federal Government about their position on the project, demonstrating that all of Halton’s MPs—regardless of political party—stand with the Halton Municipalities on this issue.
“I would like to join Chair Carr in thanking our MPs and MPPs for their support,” said Milton Mayor Gord Krantz. “This project is proposed for the Town of Milton, but it affects all Halton municipalities equally. We came to Ottawa together to voice a single request: that the Federal Government refuse approval of this project.”
“We are all in this together—this project has impacts across Halton,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. “Our position is based on the evidence and science behind the Panel’s findings. There will be significant adverse effects on human health if this project moves forward, and we are calling on the Federal Government to do the right thing.”
“The Review Panel’s report in January validated years of advocating on behalf of Halton residents,” said Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette. “No Federal Cabinet has ever determined that significant adverse effects to human health can be justified to advance a project. This is not a routine finding, and the risk is serious—it’s too high a price to pay.”
“In addition to the significant adverse effects that cannot be mitigated, the Review Panel warned of up to 16 other impacts that rely on extensive mitigation to avoid causing significant harm,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. “However, the Panel failed to assess how its more than 200 required mitigation measures can be enforced by the Federal Government. But without government enforcement, CN—a private railway—is self-regulated. This is unacceptable.”
The next step is for Federal Cabinet to consider the findings of the Panel and whether the effects are justified. The Halton Municipalities are also planning a meeting with The Honourable Johnathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on this issue. A decision by the Federal Government is expected by June 2020.
Residents are encouraged to make your voice heard on this important issue by contacting your MPs and MPPs by email or letter. To join the conversation on social media, use the hashtag #sayNO2CNhub and tag your Mayor and Council, MP and MPP.
To view the media conference or learn more about CN’s proposal and the Halton Municipalities’ position on this project, please visit halton.ca/cn.
The Regional Municipality of Halton serves 580,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.