The ongoing protests over the Coastal GasLink project in northern B.C. continue to hit Canadian industries.
But now, employees will temporarily lose their jobs due to the ongoing protests.
Via Rail says CN Rail has given them the go-ahead to resume partial service between Québec City-Montréal-Ottawa, and to resume regular service in Southwestern Ontario (Toronto-Sarnia-Windsor-London-Niagara Falls) starting Thursday (Feb. 20).
Supporters of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs in solidarity opposing the pipeline near Houston, B.C. have set up blockades at numerous railways across the country, including CN's northern mainline between Prince George and Prince Rupert.
CN announced on Feb. 11 they were cancelling train services due to the blockades set up by protesters.
Via Rail followed suit two days later on Feb. 13, saying its infrastructure owner was no able to support its operations across the network while also claiming it had ‘no other option’ and is cancelling trains 'effective immediately.'
“We understand the impact this unfortunate situation has on our passengers and regret the significant inconvenience this is causing to their travel,” the company said in a statement.
"Despite these latest developments, however, until CN Rail opens the remaining tracks for service, VIA Rail has no choice but to continue the cancellation of its services on a large part of its network, with the exception of the Sudbury-White River (CP Rail) and Churchill-The Pas (Hudson Bay Railway) lines," a statement dated today reads.
1/2 FEBRUARY 18, 8:15AM: Partial VIA Rail service to resume between Québec City and Ottawa beginning Thursday, February 20, following a notification received from CN. Only trains that serve full trips between Québec City and Ottawa will resume service.
— VIA_Rail (@VIA_Rail) February 18, 2020
The statement then goes onto say that it is with 'sincere regret' that the company must proceed with temporary work suspensions.
"Starting today, close to 1,000 Via Rail employees will receive a notice regarding this matter," the notice says. "The terms of the collective agreements will be respected with regards to the notices given to unionized employees."
“This general interruption is an unprecedented situation in our history. In 42 years of existence, it is the first time that Via Rail, a public intercity passenger rail service, has to interrupt most of its services across the country,” said Cynthia Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Since the beginning of the crisis, we have been closely working with the infrastructure owner in order to formulate a progressive, safe and orderly resumption plan. We have done everything to mitigate the impact on our employees and our passengers. At this point, we believe we have made the fairest and most reasonable decision with the proposed temporary suspension plan. I would like to thank all our union partners for their collaboration and comprehension.”
Via Rail ends the statement saying they hope all of its services will resume 'as soon as possible and that it will be able to welcome back its employees and passengers quickly.'
The company has cancelled more than 530 trains since the blockades started on Feb. 6.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters and The Canadian Press
