Lac-Mégantic: lessons still to be learned 12 years later, say residents
Twelve years after the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, little progress has been made in improving rail transport around the town, according to the spokesperson for the Coalition of Citizens and Organizations Committed to Rail Safety in Lac-Mégantic.
Commemorations were held on Sunday morning in the municipality that was marked by a train derailment that killed 47 people on July 6, 2013.
While flowers were laid at the memorial site by municipal councillors, members of the Coalition placed flowers on the tracks where the train derailed.
According to Robert Bellefleur, spokesperson for the Coalition, hresidents of Lac-Mégantic have yet to begin healing.
On top of delays in the construction of the railway bypass, 'monster trains' on the railways is causing concern among the population.
'Before, trains had an average of about 80 cars. (...) Trains now have more than 200 cars, are over 15,000 feet long, and have large locomotives that often weigh more than 150 tons,' said Bellefleur.
'These railways were designed for much lighter and smaller trains, which means that the railway infrastructure is really under major additional pressure,' he said.
For her part, Federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland paid tribute to the victims of the tragedy in a statement. She assured that the bypass remained one of her priorities.
'This is the sixth transport minister to make the same statement. Meanwhile, the years are flying by,' Bellefleur responded.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French July 6, 2025.
Audrey Sanikopoulos, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Support for mayor front-runner slumps as absence for infill decision casts bad spell
Edmonton mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell is under fire after a motion to make changes to Edmonton's infill bylaw was defeated by one vote in his absence. The leadup to council's summer break put a spotlight on city hall with more than 100 Edmontonians showing up for a public hearing on infill housing. Troy Pavlek, the host of political podcast Municipally Speaking, believes the crowd was motivated by a pledge from mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell to pause mid-block infill projects. But when it came time to vote on July 8 – two days after council's summer break started – Cartmell's seat in council chambers was empty. 'This was a rare opportunity for this reduction on infill to occur, and it needs the conservative block to pass,' Pavel told CTV News Edmonton. 'Two members of the conservative block – Sarah Hamilton and Cartmell – opted not to show up.' Coun. Erin Rutherford's seat was also empty, but she attended the meeting virtually while on vacation in Kelowna. Rutherford voted in favour of mayor Amarjeet Sohi's motion to leave the decision on infill reduction to a later date after consultations are completed in 2027. The motion was narrowly passed 6-5. Coun. Michael Janz made the motion to cut the mid-block infill maximum from eight units to six. He said he's been hearing about the motion's failure on the campaign trail. 'I was at a house that had a 'Neighbourhoods United' sign, and they were really mad that Cartmell didn't show up,' said Janz Friday. Some candidates running under Cartmell's 'Better Edmonton' banner, also wanted to see the unit reduction approved. 'I saw it as a necessary step to build trust with residents while ensuring that infill continues in a way that respects neighbourhood character, 'said a statement from Nicholas Rheubottom, who is running for a council seat in Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi. 'This week was an opportunity to bring clarity and closure to the infill conversation,' Rheubottom continued. 'While engagement has value, the decision to defer resolution for an additional 18 months creates further uncertainty for both residents and the housing sector at a time when clarity is needed most.' Cartmell's campaign manager Alex Hryciw confirmed that he was not available for comment. 'Municipal parties were not designed to have whipped votes or 'party lines,'' said Hryciw in a statement Friday. Edmonton's municipal election will be on Oct. 20.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Southern Albertans still wrapping heads around latest tariff threat
The United States is again threatening Canada with tariffs. It's unclear what impact this latest trade-war turn might have on southern Alberta. United States President Donald Trump has threatened to slap Canada with a 35 per cent tariff starting Aug. 1. That moves back a deadline of July 21 that was set during the G7 Leaders' Summit to hammer out a new trade deal. Southern Albertans are still wrapping their heads around what this might mean for the region. 'About 90 per cent of Lethbridge is manufacturing products that are exported to the United States, so obviously, any tariff is a huge concern,' said Trevor Lewington, Economic Development Lethbridge CEO. It's the latest wrinkle in a tumultuous trade war between the two countries. The tariffs would only impact goods that aren't compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. Some see the new tariffs as nothing more than a negotiation tactic. 'I hope that this is just a negotiating tactic, very similar to Trump's sort of historical style, and, you know, hopefully the Canadian government will be able to move through this and come to an agreement with them,' said Lewington. The United States is again threatening Canada with tariffs. It's unclear what impact this latest trade-war turn might have on southern Alberta. The United States is again threatening Canada with tariffs. It's unclear what impact this latest trade-war turn might have on southern Alberta. The agriculture industry isn't sounding the alarm just yet. Many producers have grown accustomed to the back-and-forth tariffs and won't be concerned until any additional tariffs are actually put in place. 'Well, it raises that kind of threat of instability within our industry again—something similar to what happened last November … although I think people aren't panicking quite as bad as they did at that point in time,' said Lynn Jacobson, Alberta Federation of Agriculture president. Premier Danielle Smith has spoken out against the latest tariff announcement. In a statement posted online, the premier said, 'The threatened increase to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods would be a tax on the American people. They would also hurt Canadian and American businesses and workers, and damage one of the most important trading and security alliances on earth.' Energy and potash tariffs are expected to stay at 10 per cent.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
Rally to support St. Boniface Street links
Winnipeg Watch Supporters rallied to support St. Boniface Street Links, which recently lost a large amount of funding from the City of Winnipeg.
