Pitt Meadows City Council is unanimously and strongly opposed to CP’s proposed Industrial Logistics Park. The proposed expansion will add a 100 acre CP Logistics Park adjacent to the Vancouver Intermodal Facility in Pitt Meadows and poses numerous and significant health, safety and environmental risks to our community
What's New
The Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project and the CP Logistics Park are two proposed and independent projects. Learn about their differences here.
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.
- City Assessment of CP's EEE
- Presentation to Council (April 5, 2022).
- CP's Enviromental Effects Evalutation:
CP Public Engagement Phase 3
From January 7, 2022 to February 4, 2022, CP sought the public's input on the proposed CP Logistics Park: Vancouver. During this third round of consultation, CP hosted three virtual open houses, reporting back to the community on the results of the Environmental Effects Evaluation (EEE) and the proposed mitigation approaches, and asked for the community’s feedback ahead of their application to the Canadian Transportation Agency.
On February 15, 2022, CP presented a summary of the findings from their community engagement and the next steps regarding the proposed Logistics Park.
Learn more: vancouverlogisticspark.ca.
CP's Round 3 Engagement Summary - posted July 12, 2022
Contact
Project team: engage@cplogisticspark.ca.
Current operations: community_connect@cpr.ca
Overview
CP's Industrial Logistics Park is proposed on 100 acres on the south side of the CP’s existing Vancouver Intermodal Facility (VIF), east of Kennedy Road. The project has three major rail and transload components:
- Agricultural hub where Canadian agricultural products will be received by rail and transloaded to shipping containers for distribution in custom allotments around the world.
- Auto lot to receive by rail North American-made automobiles destined for local distributors and specifically designed to accommodate electric vehicles.
- Liquids transload and rail facility for transportation of fuels and ethanol mainly to serve demand in Metro Vancouver.
Pitt Meadows City Council is unanimously and strongly opposed to CP’s proposed Industrial Logistics Park. The project poses numerous and significant health, safety and environmental risks to our community. Some of the negative impacts to our community include:
- large unsightly grain silos, fuel tanks and auto lot that exacerbate public safety and environmental concerns;
- negative impacts to birds, wildlife, aquatic life;
- potential risks to the Katzie Slough is located in the middle of the proposed site and leads to a major pump station;
- reduction of agricultural lands and agricultural production;
- close proximity to residential area, the Pitt River Greenway Dike Trail and BMX Track;
- additional train traffic and truck traffic at Lougheed Highway and Kennedy Road; and
- unknown effects to air quality, noise, health, quality of life.
The proposed Logistics Park is located on CP-owned land, south—west of the existing VIF. The project is subject to regulatory approval by the Canadian Transportation Authority and if approved, would be operational in late 2027/early 2028.
Separate from the Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Project
The proposed CP Logistics Park is separate from the Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Project. For the past three years, Council has worked collaboratively with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, CP and the Government of Canada to advance the $141 million project that includes an underpass at Harris Road, an overpass at Kennedy Road and associated yard and track expansion.
What the City and Council Are Doing to Oppose the CP Logistics Park
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.
Resources
CP Links and Reports
- CP Logistics Park Website: vancouverlogisticspark.ca
- Round 3 Consultation Discussion Guide
- Enviromental Effects Evalutation:
- Previous reports and studies: vancouverlogisticspark.ca/consultation-and-engagement/
Pitt Meadows Rail Yard Expansion Group
Resident-led group that is opposed to the CP Rail Yard expansion. Website: pittmeadowsrailyardexpansion.com
Related Projects in Canada
Milton CN Logistics Hub Project in Halton Region, Ontario
- Milton CN Logistics Hub Opposition Page
- Federal Cabinet's Approval of CN Truck-Rail Hub Puts Halton Residents at Risk - January 22, 2021, Halton Region news release.
- Federal Government Decision Statement - January 21, 2021, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Contact
Watch our website and the City’s social media channels for important updates in relation to the CP Logistics Park. The City will share updates related to engagement sessions, or reference materials to help provide transparency and important dates or additional context.
Past Updates
2021
January 19, 2021 (Council presentations)
- Pitt Meadows Rail Yard Expansion Resident Group - Ms. Heather Emmett introduces new community organization, STOPCPRAIL, and their desire to work with Council on the opposition of the CP Logistics Park proposed development.
- Property Tax Classification - CP Rail and Golden Ears Business Park - Cheryl Harding, Director of Finance, provides an overview of the BC Assessment property classification system as it relates to CP lands
January 20, 2021 (media release) - City Opposes Current Property Tax Rate for Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Initiates Review .
January 26, 2021 - Why Council Cannot Just Say “No” to All Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail Projects?
February 16, 2021 – Letter to CP Re: Re: CP Logistics Park: Vancouver – City of Pitt Meadows Assessment of Comparative Site Evaluation - Mayor Bill Dingwall sent a letter to CP with Council’s concerns about CP’s Comparative Site Analysis and requested that the location be re-evaluated. The City is confident that when all necessary factors are considered adequately, the data will show that CP’s proposed location is not a desirable location for the Logistics Park
February 23, 2021 - (Council presentation) - CP Logistics Park: Vancouver - City of Pitt Meadows Assessment of Comparative Site Evaluation - Director of Engineering & Operations provides an overview of the draft letter and detailed appendix outlining the City's analysis of CP's Comparative Site Evaluation of the CP Logistics Park
March 5, 2021 - Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Joins City in Opposing the CP Logistics Park - ALC, Chair Jennifer Dyson sent a letter of opposition to the CP regarding the proposed CP Logistics Park in Pitt Meadows. This position clearly aligns with the City’s and Council’s ongoing opposition.
March 9, 2021 - (Council presentation) - CAO presents City strategies for opposition to the CP Logistics Park proposed development.
June 1, 2021 - CP Public Engagement Round 2
CP's second round of engagement took place June 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021. Information was provided about and feedback sought on the ongoing technical and environmental studies for the proposed project, including early consideration of potential mitigation approaches. Learn more: vancouverlogisticspark.ca/consultation-and-engagement.
July 29, 2021 - Letter to CP Re: CP Logistics Park: Vancouver – City of Pitt Meadows Assessment of the Draft Terms of Reference (“TOR”) - The City of Pitt Meadows provided a written submission to CP outlining the errors, omissions, and lack of clarity for many components contained within their Draft Terms of Reference documentation.
August 13, 2021 - 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 is reviewing 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.
November 4, 2021 - Provincial Minister Denies Request to Explore Tax Reclassification of Rail Yards
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.
November 4, 2021 - Federal Minister Denies Request to Designate CP Logistics Park as Reviewable Under the Impact Assessment Act
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.
November 23, 2021 - Air Quality Study of Train Emissions
Envirochem Services Inc., shared their initial analysis of the current and projected diesel emissions from Canadian Pacific’s (CP) railway operations in Pitt Meadows. Learn more here.
November 30, 2021 - City Response to Determination Regarding Request for Designation Under the Impact Assessment Act
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.
2020
December 2020 - CP Fails to Provide Meaningful and Transparent Engagement
On November 24, CP informed Mayor Dingwall, by phone, of their decision to issue a press release on December 2 and to begin a community engagement period (December 2 to January 15, 2021) in relation to the CP Logistics Park. This tight timeframe does not allow for meaningful and transparent engagement. It fails to provide Council or the community with adequate opportunities to become properly informed on this very sensitive issue.
December 2, 2020 – CP Public Engagement Part 1
CP’s engagement period is ran from December 2, 2020 to January 15, 2021. To listen to an audio recording of the Virtual Open House that took place on January 13, 2021 engagement, please click on the link www.pittmeadowsrailyardexpansion.com/public-engagement and then click "January 13, 2021 Audio of Public Presentation.
December 3, 2020 (media release) - Council Opposed to CP’s Proposed Expansion of Intermodal Facility
December 17, 2020 (media release) - CP Clarifies Timing and Nature of Consultation with Full City Council and CAO as of December 1, 2020.