FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY OF PICKEING IGNORED THE COMMUNITY AND THE BURLINGTON WAKE UP CALL ON RAIL SAFETY

Date: March 31st 2010

“The February 18th Burlington trail derailment several years back should have been a wake up for Pickering and the Federal Government” says Pickering Community Advocate Maurice Brenner and candidate for Mayor in the Pickering. As recent as January 21st 2008, Brenner appeared before Pickering Council with many Pickering residents to address issues of safety and a lack of intervention to address community concerns. Brenner’s report recommended the Formation of City/Rail Lines/Community Advisory Committee modeled after one that was implemented in Port Moddy as well as a request for a Full Safety Audit of conditions on the rule lines running through the City of Pickering. The concerns being raised by the community are consistent to independent submissions of over 8 bodies as part of a review of the Rail Safety Act. However the Federal Government failed to strengthen the Rail Safety Act and ensure greater accountability nor did the Pickering Council take necessary steps at their January 21st 2008 meeting that could have kick started a process that would have kept this matter as a priority that needed to be addressed rather than merely sending off a Motion that was never addressed. “ In March of 2007, a CN freight train derailed just east of Brock Road in Pickering. While fortunate in 2007 and again yesterday, the community is tired of seeing reactive responses rather that proactive” say Brenner.

“With some 3 rail lines run through the urban part of Pickering, unless a concerted effort is made by Pickering to work with the Community and facilitate some open dialog with those responsible for rail safety, the community will continue to face an increasing risk to its safety and next time we may not be so lucky” states Brenner

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Contact: Maurice Brenner
Community Social Advocate
Phone: 416-347-8900
Email: Brenner@mauricebrenner.com