Agenda Package - City of Vernon

OTHER RESPONSE
Cønøiliøn Pncifíc
Canadian Pacific pløces n great deal of importance on its relationships with municþalities øcross the
country ønd in patticular in British Columbia. We interact with municipalities in many dffirent u)ays,
alwayi with ø aiew toward positiae outcomes for the municipnlities, their residents, the company nnd
the þublic at large. Howeaer, in the case of resolution 817, [CP] cannot offer support for what,
unfortunately, is a
flawed approach.
The resolution is based on a aicur that mu
ithin røil corridors, cønbe d
ønd would not cøuse signifiunt conflicts
tions, This is not an accuÍa
recommendøtions in your resolution. The
reasons why we haae define
wny but the most importønt of those is the safety of both the public ønd rail ernployees. SgfttV is the most
imþortønt considera.tion in decision-making at CP and the UBCM resolution, if implemented, would
creøte an unacceptøble enaironment for safe railway operations by bringing municipøl residents in too
close contact with dny to day røil operøtions. Recent work by the federal goaernment's Rnil Safety Act
Reaiew Pønel reffirmed the need, where possible, to minimize the "risks of proximity when trains and
people interact".
In addition, railwøy rights of wny are uitical to meeting the needs for future infrastructure
improaements to ensure the ability to meet customer demand. CP is not in a position to remoae assets
f'rom our rights of way for ølternøte uses such øs bike paths on a genernl bøsis. Our future plnnning
needs will be compromised, which will erode our øbility to meet the needs of our customers looking to
compete successfully in a aery competitiae global mørketplnce. The benefits to BC from ø trøde
perspectiae require us to continuously pløn for gro othbased on initiatiaes like the Asia Pacific Gøtanay
ønd Corridor Initiatiue. Preseruing our rights of way is essential to meeting this objectiae.
Trade growth ønd economic expansion require growth in the trønsportation carridor.INhile consltmer
goods and bulk products can mol)e by truck on proaincial highways ønd roads, these same products can
-be transported by rail in n aery efficient way. Efficiencies are such that some trøins can repløce as many
as 250 trucks.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE COMMENTS
The Resolutions Committee notes thøt members h"øue consistently supported the expansion of
community trails (2002-885,2002-867,2005-882) ønd members hnae supported the use of øbøndoned
rail lines for public use (1,992-872). The Committee also notes thnt UBCM members indicated support
for the Island Corridor Foundation's proposøl to preserae the E €¡ N rail corridor for alternatiae
tr ansportøtion uses (2005-8143 ).
This pøst year, a proaincial Trails Adaisory Committee deaeloped a draft Proaincial Trails Strøtegy.
The vision for trails in BC is expressed in this document is as follows:
" A world-renowned nefutork of sustainøble trails, øccessible to all, which fosters socinl, culturø\, heølth,
economic and enaironmentølbenefits for trails users, communities ønd the prooince."
,Nhile this document does address trøils on ø proaince-wide scøle, it is expected thnt specit'ic local
circumstances will need to be tøken into considerøtion when deaeloping regional components. The
UBCM proaided comments on the draft øs part of the consultation process and a
final report was to be
submitted to the goaernment. 89