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  • First Nations blockade causing disruptions

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Canada. For specific railroad questions, see Fallen Flags and Active Railroads categories.
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Canada. For specific railroad questions, see Fallen Flags and Active Railroads categories.

Moderator: Ken V

 #1533449  by ohioriverrailway
 
A CN news release says:
The blockades near Belleville, ON, on CN’s only eastern link between Western Canada and Eastern Canada and between Eastern Canada and the US Mid-West and on CN’s northern mainline in B.C. between Prince George and Prince Rupert, are impacting all Canadians’ ability to move goods and enable trade. There are currently no movements of any trains, freight or passenger, at both those locations. Hundreds of trains have been canceled since the blockades began five days ago. The impact is also being felt beyond Canada’s borders and is harming the country’s reputation as a stable and viable supply chain partner.
Full story here https://www.cn.ca/en/news/2020/02/cn-fo ... blockades/
 #1533513  by Mark0f0
 
Too bad that Canadian railway infrastructure has largely been weakened to the point where re-routes aren't feasible in most circumstances.

For example, the oil tanker traffic from western Canada/USA has absolutely no business being towed through the GTA and onto the Corridor destined for Montreal's refineries. If they can build a bypass of Lac Megantic, a comparatively little town, they sure should be able to re-build the bypass of Southern Ontario that was the northern line direct to Montreal.
 #1533550  by Gilbert B Norman
 
....all about?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa ... -1.5459893

It would appear these indigenous tribes are hurting themselves as much as they are the pipeline interests. I'd guess they perceive the CN handles the pipe and construction equipment, so disrupt their operations as well. After all, as the CBC report notes, they have jobs at the maritime ports and likely with the CN themselves.
 #1533561  by CarterB
 
Wampum!!! It's always about wampum!!
 #1533732  by NH2060
 
**ALL VIA RAIL SERVICE ACROSS CANADA SHUT DOWN**

From the VIA website:

"February 13, 2020 - 4:50pm

Following an advisory from the infrastructure owner that they are unable to support our operations across their network, VIA Rail has no other option but to cancel its services, effective immediately and until further notice.

VIA Rail is providing full refunds for all cancelled trips, which are being processed automatically. You do not need to contact VIA Rail to confirm the refund, but note that due to the volume of transactions it may take up to 15 days to receive.

In order to allow be able to help as many customers as possible, we respectfully request that you contact our VIA Customer Center only in cases of immediate urgency, at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888 842-7245), TTY 800-268-9503 (deaf or hard of hearing).

We understand the impact this unfortunate situation has on our passengers and regret the significant inconvenience this is causing to their travel."
https://www.viarail.ca/en?gclid=CjwKCAi ... lsrc=aw.ds
 #1533933  by Gilbert B Norman
 
The Aboriginal people, like any Canadian citizen, have a delineated right under their Constitution' Charter of Rights to peacefully assemble, i.e. protest.

But nothing gives them the "right" as part of that peaceful assembly, to restrain commerce.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Section 2 (c)
The freedom for groups of people to assemble for the purposes of meetings, protests, and other public and private gatherings.
So they have the right to demonstrate, but where is the right to impede commerce?

Might it be time for "the Mounties to get their man?"
 #1533951  by eolesen
 
Is it any different than a labor strike? Picket lines disrupt commerce all the time... but because unions donate to politicians, the politicians tolerate it.

This is no different.

Sent from my SM-T290 using Tapatalk

 #1533960  by jp1822
 
Gilbert B Norman wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2020 7:24 pm The Aboriginal people, like any Canadian citizen, have a delineated right under their Constitution' Charter of Rights to peacefully assemble, i.e. protest.

But nothing gives them the "right" as part of that peaceful assembly, to restrain commerce.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Section 2 (c)
The freedom for groups of people to assemble for the purposes of meetings, protests, and other public and private gatherings.
So they have the right to demonstrate, but where is the right to impede commerce?

Might it be time for "the Mounties to get their man?"
Well it seems that the protesters are ALSO rallying against the RCMP as well.....kinda throwing it all in shall we say! Per interview I saw earlier today from protester spokesperson - they are "uniting in solidarity against the RCMP's use of force." So as about 100 protestors assembled outside of a rail yard in the Montreal area, climbed on top of various tank cars (presumably full of either propane or oil - flammable warning notices clearly visible) to put up their protest banners, flags, etc. or just make a scene...........hopefully they were able to step over and around the bonfire the had also setup on the tracks........all while the RCMP looked on because they were told NOT to intervene, despite all this happening on private CN property. I just don't know how this all makes sense to honest. I had to watch the video twice to fully comprehend.

Most of the protesters probably don't even know what they are protesting about, or what would take as a resolution to their protest. I heard one person say they are just out to "shut Canada down." So with freight and passenger rail basically at a halt and the RR drawing up furlough paperwork for their employees, let alone the effects on the economy this is causing, when and what will be an effective resolution? I think the original intent went off the rails here..... And last anyone heard, Justin was out of country and was not going to readily intervene.

The RCMP was simply trying to enforce a "court order" that demanded the construction workers be allowed access to land in British Columbia where the pipelines is being built. The RCMP were abiding by a "court order." Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and their supporters refused to move. In a series of confrontations at various protester camps, the RCMP arrested more than two dozen people.

This quote summed things up a little bit more precisely.

"They came in with armed forces to remove peaceful people that are doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons," Na'Mok, one of the chiefs, told NPR. "We're protecting the land, the air, the water, our rights and title as hereditary chiefs, and we're exercising our jurisdiction."

I am not sure if peaceful protesters necessarily climb on top of freight tank cars and setup fires and blockades on private property, but OK!
 #1534863  by Pensyfan19
 
The police on Monday morning moved to break up a blockade near a rail crossing in Ontario by an Indigenous group that has disrupted passenger and freight trains in Canada, stoked fears about fuel shortages and layoffs, and created a tricky political challenge for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The blockade had been set up along Canadian National Railways tracks by members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in support of Indigenous groups who oppose a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia. Dozens of police officers moved in on the protest, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, east of Toronto, after the disruption lasted more than two weeks.

The Ontario police said that several people had been arrested and that the use of force was a “last resort.”
www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/world/canada ... t.amp.html

Well, now that the protest is done, hopefully rail service can return to normalcy. Also, why wasn't this done sooner if it was crippling Canada's economy and causing layoffs for VIA and CN?
Last edited by Ken V on Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total. Reason: added fair use quote
 #1534915  by Ken V
 
Pensyfan19 wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:20 pmWell, now that the protest is done, hopefully rail service can return to normalcy.
It's not over yet. While CN prepared to move trains through the most contentious blockade site additional barircades have been popping up elsewhere, continuing to disrupt rail traffic. Meanwhile a new "secret" was revealed:
Quiet talks brokered by a government desperate to stop a growing economic threat led to two rail rivals coming together with a workaround to bypass the Tyendinaga blockade site.

Since last week, Canada's two largest railways — CN and Canadian Pacific — have been quietly sharing their rail lines to transport essential supplies to communities in need, according to multiple government, CN and industry sources.

Protests by the Mohawks of Tyendinaga crippled passenger and freight train traffic on CN's line near Belleville for more than two weeks in solidarity with anti-pipeline protests in northern B.C against the construction of the planned Coastal GasLink pipeline. Ontario Provincial Police officers on Monday arrested 10 demonstrators to get service back up and running on the line.

But as a result of what multiple government sources are describing as a very "rare" collaboration between the two rail giants, CN trains have been circumventing blockades using alternate routes — some through the U.S. — to continue deliveries to Quebec and Maritime communities facing shortages of essential goods such as propane, chemicals for water treatment facilities and animal feed.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cp-cn- ... -1.5474684