Canadian Chambers of Commerce Endorse Milton Logistics Hub

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has officially endorsed Canadian National (CN)’s plans for a Logistics Hub.

In a letter dated January 7, 2016 sent to Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna the group warns of the potential consequences if it isn’t built including:

• More heavy long-haul trucks will be added to major highways (one intermodal train removes 280 trucks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.)

• Businesses will not be able to take full advantage of the free trade pacts the Government of Canada has concluded with some 38 countries since 2006.

• The regional and national economies will not be able to continue to grow to their full potential.

They say its approval should be dependant on an environmental assessment. They stress the need for it.  “The terminal needs to be ready, at the earliest possible date to meet the growing demand for intermodal capacity in Canada,” the letter ends.

CN owns 1000 acres of land in south Milton.  The proposed logistics hub would take up only 400 acres.  They’ve agreed to go through a federal E.A. under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), a process that could take up to two years.

Milton Chamber Endorses CN Logstics Hub Proposal

The Milton Chamber of Commerce issued a similar endorsement last month.  Their Board of Directors’ voted in favour of it citing the potential for the Hub to support other businesses.

The Chamber made its endorsement based the yet-to-be completed E.A. Their decision has caused one citizens’ group Milton Says No to demand a retraction.