Transport Canada & Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s office approached the CN and CP to help negotiate the rail sharing deal to alleviate shortages of essential goods. For over two weeks the CN and CP have been quietly sharing their rail lines to transport essential supplies around the blockade to communities in need. (due to protests by the Mohawks of Tyendinaga*)
This collaboration between the two rail giants allowed the CN to circumvent blockades using alternate routes, including US routes, to continue their deliveries to Quebec and Maritime communities that have been facing shortages of propane, water treatment chemicals and animal feed.
Originally this deal was kept secret, even from the industries affected, to prevent protesters from finding the alternate routes and blocking them as well. Ontario Provincial Police officers on Monday arrested ten demonstrators to get service back up and running on the line.
About the Protests
*These protests were in regards to the planned construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline which would safely deliver natural gas from the Dawson Creek to the Kitimat Areas. This pipeline would run through the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s territory in British Columbia. The Supreme court granted an injunction barring members of the Indigeous nation from obstructing work on the TC Energy’s Coastal GasLink pipeline and authorized the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to enforce the order.