CN Rail hub to proceed in Milton following Federal Court of Appeal ruling 

TORONTO — The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge to the construction of a massive rail-and-truck hub in Milton, allowing the project to proceed.

In a unanimous ruling Friday, a three-judge panel found that a decision by the federal government to allow Canadian National Railway Co. to build the terminal despite “adverse environmental effects” was reasonable.

The $250-million project aims to double CN’s existing line of tracks in Milton and construct a hub for containers to be transferred between trucks and trains.

In March, a Federal Court decision set aside a green light issued by the government in January 2021 and sent the project back to Ottawa for reconsideration — a ruling that has now been overturned.

The lower court decision highlighted health concerns around air quality, pointing to the 800 diesel-powered trucks that would make daily round trips to the hub in Ontario’s Halton Region.

On Friday, the appeal court found that the government gave the thumbs-up only after giving due consideration to protecting human health, in line with environmental legislation.

Local politicians and Milton residents have been actively fighting against the hub since the idea was first raised 10 years ago and has remained at the top the list of local issues ever since. Opponents say the hub will increase pollution, noise and traffic and have adverse effects on the health and safety of those who live nearby. The hub is expected to operate 24 hours a day, meaning truck and train traffic will increase significantly in the area.

Stacey Newman of the group Milton Says No said she was angry and disappointed with the decision but vowed Milton residents will continue to push back against CN’s plans.

“We’ve been knocked down before but we have gotten back up,” Newman said. “We will continue to fight to keep our community safe.”

In the past, CN has said the need for the hub is essential in addressing Canada’s supply chain.

“Consumers and Canadian businesses from coast to coast to coast rely on CN’s network to access goods at home and around the world,” said Doug MacDonald, CN’s executive vice-president and chief marketing officer adding the project was subject to Canada’s environmental review process.

Halton Region taxpayers have already spent $25 million in an effort to keep the CN intermodal hub out of Milton through legal and court action.

The 400-acre hub is earmarked for southwest Milton bordered by Tremaine Road to the west, Britannia Road to the north, Lower Base Line to the south, and Highway 25 to the east.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2024.

– with filed from INhalton.com staff