Island Corridor Foundation says First Nations are key to rail line's future
First Nations' engagement is a major focus right now as the Island Corridor Foundation considers the future of the rail corridor, a director reported to the Regional District of Nanaimo parks and trails select committee.
Nanaimo director Ben Geselbracht provided an update at the May 3 regional parks and trails select committee following a presentation by a delegation advocating for the ICF's mandate to allow active transportation options along the rail bed. The delegation argued the economic outlook was not on the side of the foundation to continue pursuing an intact rail system.
The Island Corridor Foundation owns and manages the rail corridor on Vancouver Island, which cuts north-south from Victoria to Courtenay and east-west from Nanaimo to Port Alberni and from Duncan to Lake Cowichan. It crosses the territories of 14 First Nations. Along with those Nations, the RDN, Comox Valley, Alberni Clayoquot, Cowichan Valley and Capital regional districts own the foundation.
A business case developed by the foundation, and based on the province's cost assessment of the corridor, is currently under review by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“The biggest challenge right now is First Nations engagement and establishment of a shared vision, so the ICF is really stepping back and taking the numbers that they have and engaging with First Nations' communities on what their vision and needs are in terms of the rail corridor,” said Geselbracht, who sat as an ICF board director from 2019 to 2021.
“Right now there's a real big push, that, OK what is the actual value of the corridor for everybody, and realistically, and what do the First Nations want and is this something to pursue as an integral corridor or should there be rail and trail.”
“I think it's time for regional districts to say what they're interested in.”
Last September, the BC Court of Appeal ruled that a 10-acre right of way along the rail line in Snaw-naw-as reserve land must be returned to the First Nation within 18 months if in that time federal funding is not secured for use as a public railway.
Nanaimo director Ian Thorpe, who sits on the RDN Port Authority Liaison Committee reported the Nanaimo Port Authority sees opportunities for the rail line.
“As far as the port is concerned, the viability of freight rail coming between Nanaimo and Port Alberni is of great value,” Thorpe said.
In the late 19th century, the provincial and federal governments signed away 800,000 hectares of land, including First Nation reserve lands, to the E&N Railway Company. There has been no passenger service on the line since 2011.
“The rail corridor has a history and not a good one with First Nations and it's really important that those discussions with them and understanding shared vision are taken first into account before any forward movement,” Geselbracht said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.