It would be really easy to again use this space in The Chief to remind readers one more time of the trouble CN Rail caused itself in Squamish and across the rest of its operation.
We have heard all about the recent derailments and subsequent spills of environment scarring materials.
Squamish residents are also up in arms over lengthy blockages of local rail crossings.
The noise created by shunting trains in the dark of night is keeping residents of the North Yards awake.
These are things people are talking about a great deal. The conversations are passionate and CN is mostly characterized in a bad light.
This is all as it should be. CN deserves to be labeled as a company that doesn't put enough emphasis on safety and preservation of our environment. The company record of late is indicative of the corporation's flaws.
To slam CN one more time is just too easy an option at this point in light of the fact that the front page of The Chief this week features an article about a local protest against CN and a petition circulating around the town. On page three there is a note about an important public meeting to talk about the Aug. 5 Cheakamus spill. And, check the letters pages for a number of screeds against CN.
Most people in Squamish are applying tar to CN while the rest of the community is standing by with feathers.I want to point out a few things that most don't want to hear.
CN is playing a key role in helping the West Coast Railway Heritage Park expand by contributing to the new turntable project at the park. In fact, the turntable project is just one of the things CN is helping with at the park.
It is also worth pointing out that when CN announced it is contributing $250,000 to the Pacific Salmon Foundation the company said it was a first step in the corporate response to the spill in the Cheakamus.
It looks like CN is trying to make amends but those who say the company hasn't done enough have it right.CN needs to do more help restore the aquatic life in the Cheakamus.
Let's keep pressure on the corporation, but while we are maintaining the pressure let's also keep in mind that CN has taken some small steps to set things right.
If we don't give them at least a little credit for the good things they do, we might find ourselves up against an uncooperative foe. It wouldn't serve our community's best interest if CN decides to cut its losses, pay whatever fines are levied and treat the expense as merely the cost of doing business.
It will be tough to keep the pressure on while trying to find a way to say a few positive things about CN, but in the long run it is probably the best way to draw as much as we can from CN as the Cheakamus is nursed back to health.
