Mike Cluett

Halton Municipalities Respond to CN Proposal

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by

Mike Cluett
in

Halton Municipalities Respond to CN Proposal

http://milton.ca/en/News/index.aspx?newsId=165d6c68-2e61-4366-8bd9-daf3856fbe1a

Incomplete. Improper The Town of Milton demands a “Full environmental review”

Here is the press release from the Town of Milton

Halton Municipalities Respond to CN’s Submission to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Posted on Friday April 17, 2015

News release-

On Friday, April 17, the five Halton municipalities (the Town of Milton, the Town of Oakville, the Town of Halton Hills, the City of Burlington and Halton Region) jointly issued a formal response to the Canadian National Railway Company’s (CN) project description for its proposed Milton Logistics Hub. The project description was submitted by CN to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) and is available for public comment through CEAA’s website until Monday, April 27.

The joint response highlights several concerns, including:

  • CN has provided incomplete information;
  • CN has improperly narrowed the scope of relevant environmental effects;
  • CN has failed to identify all possible federal approvals; and
  • CN has not demonstrated how this project is exempt from the Canada Transportation Act railway line approval process.

The joint response also asserts that the proposed Milton Logistics Hub project should be subject to a full environmental assessment by CEAA. It outlines a number of reasons for this suggestion, specifically citing CEAA’s mandate to protect the environment and human health, and to consider any adverse impacts that may be caused by a project like the one proposed by CN.

“As municipalities, we have key responsibilities to protect the public interest,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We expect to see our federal regulators do the same.”

“We have heard from our residents in the Town Milton,” said Mayor Gordon Krantz. “The Town of Milton demands a full environmental review of this project.”

The Town and the Region encourage residents to review CN’s project description and provide comments through CEAA’s website before April 27.  After this date, CEAA will review feedback and determine whether this project will require a full environmental assessment.

To review and comment on CN’s project description, visit http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=80100

For additional information about the proposed Milton Logistics Hub, please visit http://www.milton.ca/en/build/CN-Rail-Proposal.asp or http://www.halton.ca/cn

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Backgrounder attached: CEAA Letter – Milton Logistics Hub Project by Canadian National Railway Company (CN)

For further information, please contact:

Brett Kelly
Communications Specialist
Town of Milton
905-878-7252, ext. 2154
519-222-7412

Heather Anderson
Manager, Communications
Halton Region
905-825-6000, ext. 7576