Council remains unanimously opposed to the CP Logistics Park and continues work aggressively to influence a different CP business decision. Council’s goal is to halt the development of the proposed CP Logistics Park.
Some of the specific initiatives that the City is undertaking to oppose the CP Logistics Park are:
City Opposes CP Logistics Park Showing Errors in Environmental Effects Evaluation
On March 18, 2022, the City of Pitt Meadows issued a detailed formal letter to CP outlining the City’s assessment that CP’s Environmental Effects Evaluation (EEE) for the proposed Logistics Park contains numerous errors and omissions and does not provide a sufficient or suitable basis for CP to proceed with an application to the Canadian Transportation Agency. Read the full media release here.
Submission to the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) of Canada on the CP Logistics Park Expansion
The City of Pitt Meadows provided a written submission to the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) of Canada opposing the proposed CP Logistics Park expansion following a written request made by the Katzie First Nation for a federal impact assessment. IAA reviewed concerns about potential adverse impacts that are of federal jurisdiction (e.g. fisheries and habitat, migratory birds, environment and air quality) in relation to the proposed project.
Federal Minister Denies Request to Designate CP Logistics Park as Reviewable Under the Impact Assessment Act
On November 4, 2021, the City of Pitt Meadows received notification from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada that Steven Guilbeault, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has designated the CP Logistics Park Expansion Project as not reviewable under the Impact Assessment Act. The City disagrees with Minister Guilbeault's determination and is committed to continuing to advocate against the CP Logistics Park Expansion. Read the full media relase here.
City Response to Determination Regarding Request for Designation Under the Impact Assessment Act
On November 30, 2021, a response letter was sent to the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, outlining the City's disappointment with their recent decision to not designate the CP Logistics Park under the Impact Assessment Act.
Raising Awareness and Reaching out to Affected Government Agencies
October 20, 2021 - The City sent letters to a number of affected government agencies to help raise awareness of the negative impacts associated with CP's proposed Logistics Park. The letter's highlighted the City's substantial concerns and encouraged these agencies to provide written feedback detailing the potential impacts of the proposed project to their organization's mandate, plans and policies to: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (“IAA”), Canada Transportation Agency (“CTA”), CP, and the City of Pitt Meadows.
Letters sent:
- BC Agriculture Council_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- City of Port Coquitlam_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- DFO_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- Health Canada_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- Metro Vancouver_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- Min Agriculture_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- Min ECCS_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- Min FLNRORD_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- MOTI_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- City of Maple Ridge_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
- Fraser Health_CP LPV Request for Comment.pdf
These letters, as well as the City's CP Logistics Park Opposition Strategic Plan, were discussed on October 24, 2021 in Council. View the presentation here.
Train Emission Air Quality Study
The City is conducting a comprehensive air quality and human health risk assessment of the current and predicted 2030 exhaust emissions from Canadian Pacific (CP) rail operations in the City of Pitt Meadows.
The initial report, completed in November 2021, examined current conditions and projected future pollutants and carcinogens from CP railway emissions in Pitt Meadows. This provided key data in relation to air quality standards in Canada and potential human health risks that will be expanded upon in the next part of the study.
Further results will be presented in the final study report. The second part of the study considers additional pollutants from diesel emissions that have known health risks and to collect additional air quality data from targeted locations throughout Pitt Meadows.
Learn more at pittmeadows.ca/airqualitystudy.
Advocating to Senior Levels of Government
The City has embarked on a letter writing campaign to share Council’s and the community’s opposition to the CP Logistics Park with senior levels of government.
On November 27, 2020, Mayor Bill Dingwall wrote a letter to Minister Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport and the Canadian Transportation Agency voicing the City’s and Council’s strong opposition and concerns in relation to the CP Logistics Park. This letter has been shared with Member of Parliament Marc Dalton, Member of the Legislative Assembly Lisa Beare, Katzie First Nation Chief Grace George as well as senior representatives from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Canadian Pacific and the ALC.
The City will continue to compile all feedback received from residents and share with the senior levels of government.
Opposing Current Property Tax Rate for Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Initiates Review
Council directed staff to prepare a resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) requesting a review of the current BC Assessment property tax rate for railway infrastructure in Pitt Meadows. Since 1996, railway infrastructure has been taxed as Class 6 Business. The goal is to ensure that all properties are equitably taxed to account for the increased burden on City services, operations as well as costly impacts to infrastructure. Read the full news release here.
Provincial Minister Denies Request to Explore Tax Reclassification of Rail Yards
On November 4, 2021, the City received a letter from Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance advising that the province has no plans to explore reclassification with respect to Railway and Industrial Operations. A response requesting the Minister to reconsider and to review the fair taxation in industrial operations was sent on November 17, 2021.
- Read the Mayor’s response letter, which was discussed at Council on November 23, 2021.
- Read the Minister's follow-up response letter, dated January 12, 2022, which was discussed at Council on January 25, 2022.
Stay tuned for updates and for more information, see the project page: