As per issues related to northern
communities such as The Pas, transport, access and economic growth are vital to
the continued prosperity of those who dwell here.
In passing this also gives me
pause, and come to the conclusion that we do not seem to learn from our past;
but let’s stay on this present course for the time being.
Each decade brings its own set of
determinants; today we are dealing with a political statement made to influence
an outcome based on assumptive proposition that environmental concerns
supersedes every other.
What puzzles me is why we allow
ourselves to be swayed by absolutist points of view without giving proper
thought to what OmniTRAX proposes to achieve in relation to re-vitalizing the
northern conduit towards the Port of Churchill.
Yadi-yadi-da….I as like you,
sometimes we just shut our ears and look the other way, scoff at the
pretentiousness of politicians trying to score points at our expense or just
plain tired of it all.
Environmental issues since Idle
No More are more polarized and politically motivated.
Indigenous self-government
activism is further muddling the issue (read further down) of who really has
the authority to lay claim to what goes on at HBR.
To state that the rail line
leading to Churchill is under-developed; is an understatement. It is in fact,
derisible.
We continue to give way to lobby
groups’ intent on maintaining the East-West corridor open, at the detriment of
moving freight North and South of the province.
It is time to flex some political will of our
own and demand that we who live in the area be given the opportunity to work
with all concerned and promote the north; forthwith.
Is the HBR rail track to
Churchill meet current regulatory safety measures?
OmniTRAX believes it to be so; and short of
having a third party eye-witness capable of advocating for the public interest
and only the public interest, who really believes it to be so?
If Mégantic taught us so far, is
to severely question the process in which Canada Transport regulates the
industry. Every day we hear through the Canadian Press instances where money
and lack of supervision is allowing fail safe systems to lapse; causing
catastrophic results.
Ashton seems to equate Mégantic
as a “template” of what can possibly occur on the HBR rail line north to
Churchill.
Those that take the time to investigate the merits of Ashton’s argument
will realize that it is rooted in ignorance.
What is really at play? Simply
but…the complete restructure of wealth in this country.
If we were indeed able to learn
from past example, we would be reminded of Jim Richardson.
“He drew attention to it in a
simple, direct way. The Hudson Bay Railway, which had been a-building-off and
on- since 1884, at last, in 1929, reached Churchill.
By the first direct train out of
Winnipeg his firm sent one ton of Manitoba No. 1 Hard Wheat, sewn in two-pound
canvas sacks, to be transported to England by the HBC’s S.S. Nascopia.”-J.W.
Chafe (Extraordinary Tales from Manitoba History) 1973.
This is but one anecdotal first
account of using the North-South corridor; many others are made manifest
through other publications since the development of Hudson’s Bay by the HBC.
The point being that in the past
three years there has been a concerted effort by multiple entities (both
private and by provincial, and federal government(s)) specifying that a much
greater influx of infrastructure and funds be assigned to develop this conduit.
Ashton’s reservations are
directly linked at mitigating political risk. One cannot infuse funds in
upgrading HBR’s track line to Churchill, without assuming responsibility to its
security.
Whether or not it is the
jurisdictional purview of the NDP government is not at issue here; avoiding a
public opinion outrage is.
“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is
Fear Itself”- Franklin D. Roosevelt
That is what we are dealing with.
The fear of an impending oil catastrophe within the transport, distribution and
access of sweet crude oil import/export markets destined for the Port of
Churchill.
Ashton may indeed fear such a
catastrophe, as we all do, but impugning the efforts of the HBR/OmniTRAX Board
of Directors to mitigate such devastation without due diligence is
hypocritical.
One cannot direct a symphony at
the back end of the room facing the wall.
In addition, I would presume that
whatever political decision to be made by the Minister would bear in mind its
effects on Centre Port’s abilities to continue business as usual.
Conjecture aside, what should be
examined in the north are adequate relationship, partnership and revenue
sharing of the HBR line with First Nations, OmniTRAX, Environmental affiliates,
provincial and federal governments.
Yes, this is about money; money
for shareholders, money for profit, money for growth, money to properly protect
our environment, money for us all. One need not forego at the expense of the
other. What OmniTRAX proposes to do by way of utilizing the HBR line to
Churchill is what we should have done since 1823.
It is time to realign our federal
and provincial governments. It is time to demand representational governments;
it is time that Canadians cease funding the East-West corridor at the expense
of the North.
Any child will tell you that
dividing a pie begins in the middle; so why are we still insisting to divide
Canada’s wealth at the crust?
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