VICTORIA—New Democrat Transportation Critic David Chudnovsky is in Ottawa today to present a submission to the federal Standing Committee on Rail Safety.

“The Campbell government has ignored the environmental and safety concerns stemming from the dozens of train derailments since CN Rail began operating in our province,” said Chudnovsky. “I am taking my concerns to Ottawa and presenting to the standing committee to ensure the issues facing B.C. communities are addressed.”

“I have been pushing the provincial and federal government to investigate CN’s B.C. operations since 2005,” said Chudnovsky. “While the Campbell government are content to ignore the problems, I am not.”

The Standing Committee on Rail Safety was established in October 2006 in response to the series of high profile derailments in B.C. and Western Canada, including the spill of caustic soda into the Cheakamus River and the death of two CN workers near Lillooet.

Chudnovsky’s submission to the committee outlined two major concerns regarding CN’s operations: first, that CN was not prepared for the unique environment and topography of British Columbia when they bought B.C. Rail. And second, that after the sale of B.C. Rail, the primary rail line in B.C. was owned and operated by a multinational corporation whose priorities were focused more on its bottom line than on the public interest.

“The sale of B.C. Rail remains a contentious issue in this province, and for good reason,” said Chudnovsky. “Safety issues, concerns regarding maintenance standards and environmental disasters have been the legacy of the sale of B.C. Rail.”

Chudnovsky invited Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon to join him in presenting to the committee. “I expect the minister has unique insight into the sale of B.C. Rail and the conditions of that sale that would greatly aid the committee in its work. But the minister has declined that opportunity, showing once again that he doesn’t care about the safety and environmental concerns facing communities along the rail corridor.

“I look forward to the conclusions of the committee and expect that the results will spur improved regulations and safety considerations,” said Chudnovsky. “That is good news for British Columbians.”

Motion as adopted by the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on October 31, 2006:

"That the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities conduct and in depth inquiry into rail safety in Canada and particularly recent CN rail accidents in British Columbia and Western Canada, including a derailment that caused a disastrous spill into Lake Wabamum, Alberta, and in British Columbia that caused an environmental catastrophe in the Cheakamus River, a locomotive accident that resulted in the deaths of two rail workers in 2006 and whether there is any correlation to the increase in rail accidents as a result of the transfer of the BC Rail line to CN.”