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• Prepare a community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory;
• Work with partners to form a Community Climate Action Plan;
• Develop a Community Engagement and Outreach Plan in collaboration with the Halton Climate Collective; and
• Explore positioning the Halton Climate Collective to coordinate climate action in the region.

HEN’s comments on the Federal Cabinet’s Approval
of CN Truck-Rail Intermodal Hub

On January 21, 2021 Minister of the Environment and Climate, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson issued the Decision Statement under section 54 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2021 to approve the CN truck-rail hub in the Town of Milton.  

HEN, along with many in our community, including MP van Koeverden, Regional Chair Gary Carr, Mayor Krantz, Mayor Bonnette, Mayor Burton, Mayor Meed Ward, and Regional, City and Town Councillors, Community groups, and engaged Citizens advocated against the location of this CN hub and appeared in front of the Federal Review Panel. HEN is disappointed with the Decision from Minister Wilkinson, in particular due to the apparent disregard for our community’s health, safety, and well-being and the health of our environment. 

We know that this hub will increase Halton’s local GHG emissions and we understand that it is supportive of Canada’s national GHG reductions, but at what cost?  Climate action needs to be holistic and we must move to accelerate the path of climate mitigation and adaptation.  

We must proceed with due diligence, ensuring that we always protect and preserve our community’s health, wellbeing, and the local environment.  Looking forward, climate action must look at the ecosystem as a whole, ensuring that our path forward doesn’t create new challenges or put local systems at risk. 

The CN hub will cause adverse health effects in our community. 

The CN hub will release particulate matter of PM 2.5, which is a dangerous and unsafe level for our citizens. Fine particulate matter is linked to more effects and has a grave impact on human health. The particulates can move deeper into your respiratory tract, including your lungs. 

The hub is located within an area that includes 12 schools, a hospital and two long-term care homes. We know this particulate matter will be damaging to our children, seniors, and those with compromised health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CN hub will increase local truck traffic with the addition of 800 trucks per day - 1,600 trips running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Diesel trucks are a key source of fine particulate matter. 

Our concern with this hub is warranted, even with the 325 new conditions as part of this decision.  The fact still remains that this hub is in a populated area that will create an unsafe level of air quality in our community. 

Many of the new conditions proposed within the decision cannot be enforced and will leave our community vulnerable.

Much like the proposed Oakville power plant from years ago, this is a bad decision.

HEN strives to collaborate, partner, and look for solutions, but this hub in this location will create a health crisis for our community. 

Please contact Minister Wilkinson, your local MP, and/or CN rail, and if you hold stocks in CN rail, call your financial broker, voice your concern. 

Moving forward, every infrastructure project must be considered through a more holistic lens that simultaneously incorporates climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as community health, safety, and well-being.  We are open to discuss opportunities, and ensure the future of our community is based on best practices.

Together we can create solutions that will support climate action in concert with the well-being of our community, people, and the environment.

For more information, please visit the Region of Halton’s website and these links below: https://www.halton.ca/The-Region/News/2021/Federal-Cabinet-decision-on-CN-Truck-Rail-Hub

CEAA Panel Review of the: CN Milton Logistics Hub Project CEAA Registry No. 80100.

For more information please visit: https://www.halton.ca/The-Region/Projects-and-Initiatives/CN-Milton-Logistics-Hub-Project

​​​What is the HDSB Human Rights Symposium?

Bill 229  ‘Protect, Support, and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020’  includes Schedule 6 outlining changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. 

Conservation Authorities work across municipal boundaries with a holistic science-, data- and ecosystem-based watershed approach. The core mandates identified in Schedule 6 connect back to different times when watershed management was only responsive to drought, flooding and erosion issues. This is not what is needed today.

Take a look at the Halton Environmental Network's Response to Bill 229 Schedule 6 Proposal: We are deeply concerning that, as a budget bill, the Province deemed public comment through the EBR unnecessary.

How you can help

If you would like to show your support for Conservation Halton, and ask the Province to hold off on making unilateral changes to the CA Act without public consultation, please use this simple tool from our friends at Ontario Nature to send an email to your MPP and express your concerns.   

Halton is reviewing its Regional Official Plan, which guides land use decisions to ensure new development meets the needs of current and future residents. 

To ensure we are aligned with Provincial policies and help inform how and where our community grows, we are asking for your feedback on the following topics:

• Natural Heritage
• Rural and Agricultural System
• Climate Change
• North Aldershot Planning Area
• Integrated Growth Management Strategy: Regional Urban Structure

Get involved and have your say! Your input is valuable. Click here to complete questionnaire and learn more.

Take a look at the Halton Environmental Network's comments on the Regional Official plan and go to Halton Regional Plan to provide your input and shape Halton's Future.