The City of Estevan has received a response from the Canadian Pacific Railway to their request that the company stop activity at their oil transloading site and the answer isn't exactly the one they were looking for.
"We're having ongoing discussions with them, but in response to our request for them to stop they have said no," said city manager Jim Puffalt.
At the Jan. 9 regular meeting of city council, a motion was unanimously passed to request that CPR stop loading oil at their site in Estevan until the two sides meet Jan. 24 to discuss the City's safety concerns and other matters regarding the site. Council considered the move a shot in the dark, but with so many questions surrounding the site, they were hopeful CPR might stop work until their questions were answered.
"They just don't seem to want to work with us. They'll talk to us until the cows come home, but they have a business plan that they are working through and we are meeting on the 24th and in the meantime they are going to continue onwards."
Puffalt said the City will continue to work to get CPR to stop loading at the site, but added they will need the support of the public to get their message out. They had previously asked Estevan residents to contact CPR and the federal government to express their concerns and Puffalt said he has noticed opposition continuing to grow.
The most noticeable example is the signs that have been placed throughout Estevan with the various phone numbers people may call to register their concerns.
"It's something where there should have been a whole lot more consultation before the process started," Puffalt said. "Maybe it's fine, who knows? Until we actually see what they are proposing, we have to say to the people, we have no power or control over it and our only hope is that the public being involved is the only way to make something happen here.
"I think there has been a groundswell because people generally don't like it when somebody says we don't care about you, we are just going to do what we want anyways."
The City has also enlisted the help of local politicians including Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki who sat in on an earlier meeting between the City and CPR and is continuing to work on their behalf.
Komarnicki says that CPR should have done a better job of providing advance notice and informing the public of exactly what is happening at the transloading site that is located on their property in the centre of the city.
"I do know that it is on their own private property so that gives them a certain amount of leeway but to the extent it affects the quality of life of those in the near proximity of their facility as well as the safety concerns and fire department issues are ones that need to be addressed," said Komarnicki. "But on a bigger issue, I think the public wants more input and more involvement than has been the case so far."
Komarnicki added he would like CPR to hold a public forum and allow Estevan residents to have their say about the site and ask questions. The City has made a similar request, but thus far CPR has refused to hold one.
"I don't think that's unreasonable," he said. "I know CPR would take a fair bit of flack but so be it. I think the public is entitled to get the basic information about what they are doing, what their plans are long-term, short-term. I think it's a reasonable request and I will pursue that further in the next number of days including when I am in Ottawa. Ultimately one has to be sure if the facility is going to remain it has to be safe and all those issues need to be taken into consideration."
Komarnicki has also been looking into what can be done at a federal level. He noted Transport Canada has indicated they will have no direct involvement with the facility but the Canadian Transportation Agency might have jurisdiction over the issue.
"I've opened up communications with them, and we will see where that goes."
