Halton Municipalities Present Key Concerns on CN Truck-Rail Hub at Public Hearing
Please see below a media release from the Region of Halton.The Halton Municipalities (City of Burlington, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Milton and Town of Oakville) is bringing forward expert opinions and reports to a Federal Public Hearing today (Thursday, June 20) on a 400-acre truck-rail hub proposed by the Canadian National Railway (CN) in the Town of Milton.The project is currently being assessed by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Joint Review Panel. The Panel will host a Public Hearing in Milton from June 19-July 17 to hear community concerns related to CN’s proposal, including environmental effects and how it may affect local residents.
"We have been working closely with our Halton municipal partners to ensure residents' concerns are heard. This project impacts more than rail lines — it will congest our roads, pose health risks and result in fewer jobs for the community. This is something every resident and member of this community should be concerned about." — Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr
“We have been working closely with our Halton municipal partners to ensure residents’ concerns are heard. This project impacts more than rail lines – it will congest our roads, pose health risks and result in fewer jobs for the community,” said Halton Region Chair Gary Carr. “This is something that every resident and member of this community should be concerned about.”The Halton Municipalities’ team of internal and external experts have identified significant non-rail aspects of the project that raise concerns for residents and the community. These concerns and expert opinions will be presented to the Panel during the Hearing:
- Traffic congestion: The hub will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and result in 1,600 truck trips to and from the site each day. These truck routes will lead to more traffic on our roads and traffic will continue to increase as the site’s capacity grows. This congestion poses a risk to the safety of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and families in the area.
- Health and safety: The proposed site is immediately adjacent to existing and future residential areas. Approximately 34,000 current and future residents, twelve schools, two long-term care homes and one hospital are located within one kilometer of the site. The site will generate increased levels of noise, air pollution and lighting, and significantly impact the community’s health and safety.
- Environment: Our community effort to protect the environment will be impacted by the effect of emissions, storm water discharge, water takings and watercourse alterations.
- Employment: The project will result in less serviceable employment lands and potentially fewer jobs for the Halton community. The site and the surrounding area is currently planned for 1,500 jobs and this project will only result in 130 jobs
Additionally, CN has only revealed its plans for 400 acres on the site; they have not disclosed its plans for the remaining 800 acres. Experts have determined that the operations at this site can be significantly expanded which will further increase the impacts on residents and the community.
"CN is not just asking us to support the current proposal, they're asking us to have faith about what might come next. All while telling us it is none of our business." — Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz"I have spent several years listening to local groups, stakeholders, and individuals on the topic of the proposed CN intermodal facilitiy in Milton. I have weighed all the facts for and against this project and have come to the conclusion that this site is not appropriate for this type of operation." — the Honourable Lisa Raitt, MP for Milton and Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition"I commend the many residents who have voiced their concerns about this project and thank Mayor Krantz and Chair Carr for taking the lead during the Joint Review Panel presentations. As the provincial representative for Milton, I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure those voices continue to be heard as the Joint Review Panel makes their recommendations, and the Federal Government makes their final decision on this project." — Milton MPP Parm Gill
You can watch the Public Hearling live by clicking the link and also get involved by using social media to be part of the conversation or by contacting your MPP or MP to let them know your concerns about the proposed project. Residents can also provide comments on halton.ca/cn and these will be used to update the Panel.To learn more about the project, potential impacts and what the has been done so far in the assessment process, please visit halton.ca/cn.MY TAKE:
When any member from our regional communities suffers, it matters to all of us. So, when this came to the councils in Burlington and Halton Region, it was a unanimous vote. This has been a unanimous process throughout to represent the concerns of Milton residents and make sure we have a strong regional voice. And it's been based on evidence, not wishes, not desires, not economic expansion. So, we are 100 per cent in solidarity, all four mayors and our regional chair, and all four municipalities in Halton Region — we have the Town of Milton's back.