Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Town of Milton, Halton Region, the Town of Oakville, the City of Burlington and the Town of Halton Hills say a CN truck-rail hub will negatively impact the health of nearby residents.
Canadian National Railway Company’s plan to build a logistics hub in the Town of Milton – a facility that would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week – was approved recently by the federal government – with 325 conditions. CN will invest $250 million to build the facility referred to as “a key to Canada’s economic growth in North America and globally – connecting Canada and the GTHA with international markets.
Local officials say they were shocked by the approval announced by Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Jonathan Wilkinson.
In his Environmental Assessment Decision Statement, Wilkinson said “the Government of Canada determined that the significant adverse environmental effects of the project are justified.”
He also admits the project is “likely to cause significant adverse project-related and cumulative environmental effects” and conditions were imposed.
Wilkinson goes on to all the facility “the most stringently regulated intermodal logistics hub in Canada, and among the most stringently regulated in North America.”
Conditions listed by the government are aimed at addressing the project’s effects on air quality, human health, groundwater and surface water, migratory birds, species at risk, fish and fish habitat, the use of lands and resources by Indigenous peoples, and physical and cultural heritage.
CN must establish a community liaison and communication process, and to document and respond to feedback from the community, as and demonstrate how this feedback is addressed.
“Canadians expect us to take meaningful action to protect the environment while also supporting economic growth, not just for today but for future generations,” Wilkinson said.
“Today’s decision to approve the Milton Logistics Hub Project, which is subject to a wide range of conditions that the Proponent must comply with to protect human health and the environment, demonstrates that the federal regulatory process meets the economic and environmental objectives of Canadians at the same time.”
Halton mayors and other opponents, however, say the conditions don’t go far enough. They worry that significant health effects are unavoidable.
“Even after some form of mitigation, there will still be significant problems. This includes the release of particulate matter (PM2.5) that is inherently dangerous and unsafe at any level of exposure and will create significantly adverse effects on human health in the community,” says a release from Halton Region.
CN has said in a statement that it is committed to further engage with the Halton communities as it moves forward with the project, has not announced its next steps.
“How could the federal government disregard the concerns of the community and allow a project like this within one kilometre of approximately 34,000 current and future residents, including one hospital, 12 schools and two long-term care homes?” asked Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz.
“There are many unanswered questions that the federal government must address. This is not what residents of Milton deserve.”
The plan includes a railway yard with more than 20 kilometres of track and is designed to transfer containers between trucks and railcars. CN says the facility will reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning the transport of goods from trucks to lower-emitting train shipments.
“We have heard from members of our community, residents and local leaders about their collective concern regarding this project,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “It is unconscionable that the Federal Government would approve this project despite findings from its own Federal Review Panel that the project will cause significant adverse effects on human and environmental health. There has never been a decision like this before.”
The significant health effects caused by this project are unavoidable, local mayors argue. Even after some form of mitigation, there will still be significant problems. This includes the release of particulate matter (PM2.5) that is inherently dangerous and unsafe at any level of exposure and will create significantly adverse effects on human health in the community.
“Halton residents deserve an explanation from the Federal Government about the project it has just approved, and the detrimental impact it will have on the health of residents,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, arguing “the vast majority of the over 200 mitigation measures proposed by the Agency fall outside federal jurisdiction and cannot be enforced federally.”