Court Nixes Proposed CN Logistics Hub
CN Rail says it remains committed to developing a $250-million Greater Toronto Area logistics hub that was nixed by a federal court judge.
“The Canadian government has stated its commitment to addressing supply-chain issues and improving Canada’s transportation system to make life more affordable for Canadians, this project is fundamental to that effort,” said Doug MacDonald, CN’s chief marketing officer in a statement.
The federal court decision requires Ottawa to reconsider cabinet’s January 2021 approval of the project in Milton, Ont.,, the Canadian Press reported. Plans call for CN to double its existing line in the Halton region and develop an inter-modal facility for trains and trucks in Milton.
“Authorization to build the project was subject to Canada’s most extensive environmental review process resulting in an approval, including 325 conditions designed to protect both the community and the environment,” CN said in its statement.
An expert review panel concluded that the hub would likely have a harmful environmental impact on “human health as it relates to air quality,” Judge Harry Brown said in his ruling, CP reported.
But, the judge found, cabinet and then-environment minister Jonathan Wilkinson “inexplicably” did not consider or refer to the panel’s finding when approving the project.
Montreal-based CN said it is still reviewing the decision.
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