Vancouver — Canadian National Railway Co. said Wednesday it will provide financial support to help salmon populations in the Squamish River watershed recover after a freight train derailed earlier this month, causing a toxic spill in one of the river's tributaries.

The company will provide financial support as required over the next five years to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, which began work earlier this year on helping the salmon population to recover and improving the overall health of the watershed, it said in a release.

On August 5, a CN freight train derailed about 30 kilometres north of Squamish, B.C., sending cars into the Cheakamus River.

One of the cars — which contained about 51,000 litres of sodium hydroxide, a highly corrosive liquid — broke open, spilling most of its contents into the river and wiping out large populations of salmon and other fish species.

“With this long-term commitment, CN has demonstrated its dedication to the recovery of Pacific salmon in British Columbia,” said Paul Kariya, executive director of Pacific Salmon Foundation.

“CN is committed to the Pacific salmon recovery in the Squamish watershed and we look forward to working with Pacific Salmon Foundation and its partners in this important effort,” said Peter Marshall, senior vice-president for CN's Western Canada region in the release, which made no reference to the spill.

The 3,650 square-kilometre Squamish River watershed is a vital habitat for all six species of Pacific salmon, as well as other fish, marine life, terrestrial mammals and birds, and invertebrates.

© The Globe and Mail 2005