Working Diligently for The Pass

January 17, 2007

I would like to clarify my involvement and the work that I have done regarding the new siding in the Crowsnest Pass proposed by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). While the work I have done has been under the radar of the local media, I have been working continuously to achieve progress as the Member of Parliament for the Crowsnest Pass.

I was first made aware of the CPR’s plans on April 6th of last year. Mayor Irwin contacted me and outlined his concerns about the proposal to me at that time. I immediately contacted the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport for assistance.

This started a flurry of activity on my part to inquire and determine what efforts I could make in order to address the public and environmental safety concerns associated with the CPR proposal. I have met with Department of Transport officials on numerous occasions and I have had a face to face meeting with the Minister of Transport on the issue.

In addition, I wrote to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, requesting intervention. I had the opportunity to speak with Impact Assessment Biologists, and upon my request, they visited the site. I also wrote to the federal Minister of the Environment to raise awareness of CPR’s proposed plans for the Crowsnest Pass. The federal Minister assured me that the provincial environmental assessments were completed to the necessary and satisfactory requirements. I also received a petition from the Crowsnest Conservation Society, which I presented to the House of Commons on October 5, 2006.

Since first being contacted last April, I have continued to push for reviews, site visits and assistance from federal departments to address the CPR’s proposal. I have met with ministers, deputy ministers, director generals and heads of divisions, each time addressing my constituent’s concerns with CPR’s proposal. As a result, there have been site visits with Canadian Transportation Authority and safety officers to see first hand the siding site and determine what the proposal means for the Crowsnest Pass. I participated in a site visit and have seen for myself the site and heard from the professionals with the Canadian Transportation Authority.

I have also been able to facilitate bringing the Municipal District and the CPR together to discuss initiating mediation. This would provide an opportunity for the Municipal District and CPR to address the environmental and safety concerns which have been identified by the community. I have also worked with individual constituents to encourage mediation as a method of dispute resolution, which would also be an appropriate method for resolution between the Municipal District and the CPR.

The mediation process is confidential between the two parties and as a political representative, I must step back from the process. This allows the mediation process to continue, so long as both parties, the Municipal District and the CPR, agree to the process and participate in it.

I would like to express my optimism for finding a resolution to the mediation process that fairly and adequately addresses the concerns that my constituents have for environmental and public safety. By meeting with the Minister of Transport, deputy ministers, director generals, heads of divisions and other leaders, I have been able to raise awareness of the concerns of my constituents and facilitate moving the parties involved towards resolution of the issue. As Member of Parliament, I have worked on this file diligently for months and I hope to see a satisfactory resolution for all parties.

Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod