N.W.T. asks regulator to intervene in CN Rail's decision to scrap rail line
CN Rail decided last year not to fix 30-km stretch of rail line between Hay River and Enterprise
The N.W.T. government has asked federal regulators to intervene in CN Rail's decision to not fix its damaged rail line between Hay River and Enterprise, arguing the company has a legal obligation to keep the line functional.
"The [government of the Northwest Territories] will not stand by as CN Rail shirks its responsibility," reads a written statement from N.W.T. Infrastructure Minister Vince McKay, in a news release on Monday.
The government says it applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency for adjudication, saying the rail company "has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Canada Transportation Act."
"As a common carrier, CN Rail has a legal duty to maintain this rail line and ensure the continued flow of goods to the N.W.T.'s most vulnerable communities," McKay's statement reads.
CN said last year that it had decided not to rebuild a critical 30 kilometres of railway between Enterprise and Hay River that was damaged in 2023's wildfires.
It said at the time that the decision followed "thoughtful engagement with local stakeholders and customers," but did not provide any details about who was consulted. The company also said that the repair costs were too high for the customer volume in the region.
Territorial officials, however, argued that the rail line was part of a rail and barge corridor that supplies essential goods to rural communities up the Mackenzie Valley, and Inuit communities of the High Arctic.
On Monday, the territory again blasted CN Rail for "shirk[ing] its responsibilities."
"To be clear, this issue goes beyond just a damaged rail line — it is about protecting the livelihood of N.W.T. residents," the news release states.
"CN's decision to abandon this critical infrastructure is a failure of corporate responsibility and contradicts the very principles of reconciliation and respect that the company has publicly committed to through its Indigenous Relations Policy."
The damaged rail line is already having a "profound and detrimental effect" on many of the territory's remote communities, it says, by putting further strain on supply chains and transportation costs.
The multi-billion-dollar company can afford to fix the line, the territory says, but has instead chosen to "neglect its responsibilities."
The railway company stated last year that, under Canadian Transportation Agency rules, rail companies must follow a three-year process to shut down a section of track. After a year on the list, CN can attempt to sell it.
Former infrastructure minister Caroline Wawzonek said earlier that the territory wouldn't fund the repair, as the $15 million needed to fix the 30-kilometre stretch "isn't an appropriate use of public tax dollars." She also said then that the territory was looking at its legal options to address the issue.
McKay says the Canadian Transportation Agency has accepted its application for adjudication, and that he will not comment further while the adjudication process is underway.
The agency is an independent regulator and quasi-judicial tribunal that focuses on the national transportation system, including issues related to air, marine and rail transport. Adjudication can lead to a legally binding decision.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Cision Canada
LAC provides funding to 37 local organizations in support of Canada's documentary heritage
Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025–2026 funding cycle of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program GATINEAU, QC, June 4, 2025 /CNW/ - This year, archives, museums and documentary heritage institutions will share $1.425 million to carry out 37 projects selected under Library and Archives Canada's (LAC) Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP). View the projects funded by the DHCP in 2025–2026: These projects were selected for the significant impact they will have on documentary heritage preservation, and access, and in the broader community. LAC funding empowers local recipient organizations to allocate essential resources to projects aimed at enhancing access and awareness of their collections, while also bolstering their capacity to safeguard Canada's documentary heritage. Heritage organizations play a vital role in preserving Canada's local memory. LAC is proud to contribute to documenting, preserving and making accessible to the public a memory that reflects Canadian experiences, cultures and society. About Library and Archives Canada The mandate of LAC is to acquire and preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. LAC also facilitates cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Quotes " I would like to congratulate all the recipients this year. I also want to express my gratitude for the outstanding efforts they put forth in educating and informing Canadians about their history. We take pride in supporting these initiatives, which will further empower local institutions and contribute to the development of more resilient communities." —The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages "My heartfelt congratulations to all the recipients! Your dedication to documenting and preserving your community's history is truly commendable. It brings me much joy to see how LAC is able to support amazing projects like yours through yearly funding. Now, more than ever, it's essential for LAC and communities across Canada to stay committed to making our shared stories accessible to everyone." —Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada "LAC's DHCP funding was crucial for the ICC Canada Archives in 2024-2025. This funding allowed us to enable access to Inuit documentary heritage in Inuktitut. Inuktitut is a living language and the first language of many Inuit in Canada." — Lisa Mullins, Archivist, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada "The funding from the DHCP has made an immense difference to the organization. In the recordings currently restored and made accessible, there are notable musicians, whose legacy will be remembered." — Felix Rowe, Administrative officer, National Youth Orchestra of Canada Quick Facts Since the creation of the DHCP in 2015, LAC has provided $16.395 million in support of 407 documentary heritage community projects. This year, of the 37 recipients, 9 organizations will receive funding for Indigenous documentary heritage projects, and nine organizations will receive funding for Francophone documentary heritage projects. An organization can receive funding of up to $50,000 per year (up to $60,000 for a remote organization) to implement its project. The next call for proposals to apply for funding will be issued in the fall of 2025. Associated Links
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Canada's climate strategy needs allies. King Charles may be one
Canada is waking up to a hard truth: We are not ready for the climate economy already reshaping the world. Wildfires are now a season. Once-in-a-century floods strike every few years. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China are racing ahead with clean energy manufacturing, critical minerals strategies and massive green industrial plans. If we don't act, Canada risks falling behind — not just environmentally, but economically and geopolitically. That's why Prime Minister Mark Carney's June 2 announcement to fast-track clean energy and infrastructure projects couldn't come at a better time. The plan signals a serious shift in our approach to building a green economy: Through carbon border adjustments, new industrial incentives and the creation of 10 national parks, we start to see the outline of a real climate industrial strategy. But for this plan to succeed, it must go beyond regulatory reform and economic opportunity. It must be rooted in environmental justice, Indigenous partnership and international collaboration. In this effort, Carney may find a powerful ally: King Charles III. Some Indigenous communities and provincial leaders have rightly raised concerns about the fast-tracking process. First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are not just stakeholders — they are rights holders. Their legal authority and ecological knowledge are essential to shaping just and effective climate solutions. With the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) enshrined in Canadian law, meaningful partnership is not optional — it's foundational. This means co-governance, Indigenous-led conservation and direct investment in community-driven clean energy projects, not after-the-fact consultation. As Canada builds its climate strategy, King Charles III could be a valuable global ally. Long before it was popular, he championed environmental causes. Today, through the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the Terra Carta charter, he's directing billions toward biodiversity, regenerative agriculture and clean technologies. His message is clear: Finance must align with nature and long-term well-being. At the helm of the SMI is CEO Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, who has mobilized over 250 CEOs globally to drive systemic sustainability reform. Her operational strength and convening power are helping turn a bold vision into action. Carney, King Charles, and Jordan-Saifi have worked together before — notably at the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum at Windsor Castle. Their shared values and credibility open the door to deeper collaboration. Canada could lead by proposing a Canada–U.K. Sustainable Finance Task Force, embedding Terra Carta principles into national partnerships, or co-developing funding for Indigenous climate innovation. The urgency is heightened by our evolving relationship with the U.S. President Donald Trump has reintroduced sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports, disrupting supply chains and driving up costs for materials essential to our clean energy future. Meanwhile, the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act is reshaping the clean tech landscape, favouring American interests and intensifying competitive pressure on Canada. Carney's push to reduce our dependence on the U.S. through strategic investments in domestic infrastructure and supply chains is crucial. Same with strengthening our alliances — with Europe, the U.K. and Indigenous nations — to move beyond being a supplier of raw materials and toward becoming a leader in clean technologies, sustainable jobs and climate innovation. Carney's plan lays the foundation for a cleaner, fairer and more resilient future. But how we proceed — particularly in upholding Indigenous rights, strengthening international partnerships and overhauling bureaucracy — will determine whether we lead or lag. We already have what we need: the global platform and moral clarity of King Charles, the lived knowledge of Indigenous communities and the economic insight of Carney. Together, they offer the leadership to drive a truly transformative climate agenda. The question is no longer what must be done — it's whether we have the courage to do it. Sarah Farahdel is a public scholar and sustainability expert with nearly a decade of industry experience. She earned her PhD in information systems engineering at Concordia University.
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
Air passenger rights group files court challenge to 'unconstitutional' rules it says muzzle travellers
Social Sharing Jill Rorabeck says she wishes she'd never turned to Canada's airline regulator to settle her dispute with Swoop Airlines. Not only did the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) side with the airline, Rorabeck can't even share the details of her dispute. The Toronto woman submitted a complaint almost three years ago with the CTA, which acts as a mediator between airlines and passengers in air travel complaints. She learned in January that she lost her case, but due to legislation passed in 2023 that prevents passengers from sharing full details of CTA decisions, she's not allowed to reveal key information about what happened. "No one can warn others about their experiences," said Rorabeck. "There is zero accountability on the part of the airlines or the CTA." The Air Passenger Rights organization — a Halifax-based nonprofit — has now filed a constitutional challenge in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice, arguing Canadians should have access to the decisions made by the CTA's quasi-judicial tribunal. "We believe that the way the complaint process has been set up at the Canadian Transportation Agency violates fundamental rights," said Air Passenger Rights founder Gábor Lukács. At issue is section 85.09(1) of the Canadian Transportation Act, which says once the CTA issues a decision, neither the airline nor the passenger involved is allowed to openly share the details — unless both parties agree. Since that rule was implemented, not a single case has been made fully public, which Lukács says gives airlines the strategic advantage of having access to previous rulings while passengers remain unaware of how complaints are being decided. "The only entities that benefit from this are the airlines," said Lukács. "Individual passengers don't have the experience or don't have the knowledge of what arguments work and don't work while the airlines compile these huge databases of their own cases." Prior to the 2023 changes, full decisions issued by the CTA were posted online, but now only basic information is available. So key details, such as the reasons behind a ruling, remain confidential. The regulator says the new system is faster, fair and more efficient. The lawsuit argues that the CTA has a quasi-judicial role, so rules that muzzle passengers violate the open court principle in law, which says court proceedings should be open to the public. It's a fundamental aspect of a democratic justice system, ensuring transparency and public confidence in the legal process, says Paul Daly, a constitutional lawyer and research chair in the Administrative Law and Governance program at the University of Ottawa. "The fact that decisions are not published and proceedings are kept confidential, it tilts the playing field in favour of the airlines," said Daly. "I, you or anyone else should be able to walk into any courthouse in the country any day of the week and attend a hearing or access documents … that are in the registry." As part of its legal argument, Air Passenger Rights asked for the decisions, reasons and all documents for five air passenger complaint files last July in an effort to demonstrate that the CTA systematically denies all such requests. The secretariat of the agency denied the request a month later, citing section 85.09(1) of the Canadian Transport Act as the basis for its refusal. "They are trying to use this provision as a way of refusing to disclose information that should be disclosed," Lukács said. The lawsuit argues that the current rules prevent Air Passenger Rights from doing its job, because it needs to know how complaints are being decided in order to provide information and resources to passengers and push for improvements. It also argues that the secrecy around decisions prevents media and other organizations from "effectively communicating information about air passenger complaint proceedings." The lawsuit calls for a hearing to be held by video conference. No date for the hearing has been set.
