May 11, 2018Lac-Mégantic, Quebec
No community should ever have to experience what Lac-Mégantic went through on July 6, 2013. We remember the 47 people who died and stand with all those whose lives were irreparably changed.
Many people in the community face ongoing effects of trauma and loss. Because of the unique nature of this tragedy, and to help more people in the Lac-Mégantic community heal and rebuild their lives, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have signed an agreement-in-principle to jointly fund the rail bypass project.
The 12.8 kilometre route was selected based on a feasibility study managed by the municipality of Lac-Mégantic. The federal government has also reached an agreement with the Central Maine & Quebec Railway, the project proponent, which will also own and operate the new rail infrastructure.
The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with Lac-Mégantic, the neighbouring municipalities of Frontenac and Nantes, the Government of Quebec, and other stakeholders to complete this important project, and support the community as it rebuilds itself once again into a beautiful, vibrant place to live, work, and visit.
“Hope and resilience have come to define the people of Lac-Mégantic. For nearly five years, they have worked incredibly hard to recover and rebuild, and create a better future for their community. Today, we take another step forward. And while we know there are some wounds that can never heal, we sincerely hope this new rail bypass marks a new beginning for the people of Lac-Mégantic.”—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
133 million dollars for 12.8 Km (my definition of insanity).. Would have been better to buy the entire line (about 20 million) four years ago and then shut it down . It has been a marginal performer at best for at least 40 years now. CP sold it off to Iron Roads who couldn't make a go of it, and it then went to the MM&A who didn't have much luck with it either, even without considering what happened in Megantic in 2013. 133 million.. every Canadian taxpayer is walking with a bit of a stoop today.
The oil and other stuff can reach Saint John via other means.. i.e. CN or by ship.
In the meantime the line to Churchill makes snail like progress at a total cost of 1/2 that and likely a 1/4 of that...and thats hundreds and hundreds of miles in muskeg and permafrost. Now that line is strategically important, vital to the communities it serves, is the only cost effective method to provide food to Churchill and about a hundred other things that are irrefutable.
Omintrax is now off the hook on any lawsuit now, and it's the Hudsons Bay Railway the Feds are going after. No leadership at all from Ottawa.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ezralevant/status/969748252080812032/video/1
10+ million a mile...well it's Quebec, things cost a bit more.
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