Deadline for decision on future of E&N railway on Vancouver Island enters final weeks
Posted: Jan. 11, 2023 4:56PMThere are just over two months remaining for the federal and provincial governments to make a decision on whether they will fund the restoration of rail service on the E&N corridor.
More than a century later, the railway has fallen into a state of disrepair as it has not been in use. Snaw-Naw-As First Nation has filed for the reserve lands to be returned to its people in 2020. Initially the First Nation lost, but filed an appeal.for a decision to be made whether or not rail service will be re-established on the E&N corridor, and if not then the lands should be returned.
“Now, rail doesn’t cure all those ills, but it certainly should provide us with options that we can use in the event that those kinds of things happen again.” “It could be a public relations nightmare for government to come up with almost a billion dollars for an abandoned short line railway when it cannot support our intercity bus system, or other strategic transportation investments on Vancouver Island. There are other opportunities to invest in and other opportunities to explore. The value in the corridor is now in its parts.”
Transport Canada says its decision will be informed by engagement being done by the B.C. government, and the B.C. government says it will “closely monitor” how the federal government responds.CHEK NewsletterSign Up “It’s critical to know that this is an extremely important decision, this is going to set the stage for every future generation on this Island. We’ve got this amazing asset out there that we can’t squander,” Stevenson said.
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