Hoping to find strength in numbers, several community groups formed a coalition last week to tackle the issue of rail-line abandonment in Western Canada.
The Western Rail Coalition was created by seven groups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan that want short-line railway companies to set up in their regions as the country’s two major companies, CN and CP Rail, abandon their less profitable lines.
“We’ve been little communities fighting our own fights for the same thing and not having any success,” said Maxine Plesiuk, acting chair for the coalition.
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The Western Rail Coalition plans to meet next month in Regina to iron out its structure. Plesiuk believes that lobbying for changes to the Canada Transportation Act is a top priority.
Plesiuk lives at Ethelbert, Man., where efforts are under way to create a short line in the region.
New Democrat MLA Rosann Wowchuk, who represents Manitoba’s Swan River riding, supports the effort.
Customers come first
Wowchuk believes the Canada Transportation Act was designed to serve the interests of Canada’s major rail companies. Changes to the act are needed, she said, to give priority to people using the transportation system.
“The federal government left Western Canada out to dry. They’re not doing anything to ensure a safe transportation system.”
Wowchuk said the provincial government can help persuade Ottawa to halt further branch-line closures until a full review of the issue is complete.
Justice Willard Estey is expected to finish his review of Canada’s grain handling and transportation system at the end of this year.
Glen Findlay, Manitoba’s transportation minister, said his government supports short lines and has lobbied for a halt to rail-line abandonment until the Estey review is complete.
