Milton’s Town Council is looking for ways to fight against the CN Intermodal Hub.
Council held a confidential session with its legal team after Monday’s meeting. It’s described on the agenda as:
“Milton Council will convene into confidential session to discuss litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board with respect to the Minutes of Settlement – Minor Variance Application A2-19/043/M; and to discuss litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board, and for advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, with respect to a CN Rail update.”
Following the session, the Town Councillor for Ward 4, Sameera Ali, says the fight isn’t over.
If built, the Hub would be built in Milton’s Ward 4, across 400 acres of land along Tremaine Road. The project includes a new mainline rail, which will double the existing track line and add over 20 km of new rail yard track.
Councillor Ali says that when she speaks with residents, they have nothing but negative feelings towards the Hub.
The CN Intermodal Hub was approved by the federal government back in January. The official decision statement can be read here. The 49-page document details a number of conditions that will need to be met for the hub to be built.
The Intermodal Hub had been a long standing issue in Milton. An Environmental Review Panel was put together in 2019 to hear both sides, review the information brought forth, and decide if the hub would have significant health impacts on Milton and the surrounding area. The results were released in January of 2020.
Councillor Ali ends by pleading with CN Rail to listen to other municipalities who are begging for the company to build the Intermodal Hub in their area. Recently, Woodstock put out a request to take the Hub since the Town of Milton was so against the location.
