In spite of the recent payment, CN Rail not off the hook yet

CKNW(AM980)
Wednesday, February 08, 2006

SQUAMISH/CKNW(AM980) - B-C's Environment Minister is downplaying reports it may take 50 years for the Cheakamus Canyon to recover from last summer's CN Rail spill.

Barry Penner says a draft report that will be presented at an open house in Squamish today says the recovery may take 11 to 50 years, 50 years at the outside, "But, anyway you slice it that's a pretty significant recovery time whether it's 11 years or 50 years, so we want to make sure that we do the planning right so that when the recovery takes place it's a full recovery."

Penner says in any case, CN will be on the hook for all the damages and may still face charges, "It's still very possible that they may be ultimately charged and brought to court and face significant penalties, financial penalties, in the courts."

But the Minister stresses that investigation is not complete.

© CKNW(AM980) 2006