Part of the E&N rail line will be returned to the Nanoose First Nation, with 18 million dollars in additional funding going to the project.
Today was the deadline for a decision on the section.
A joint statement from the federal and provincial governments says, “In support of our shared ongoing commitments to reconciliation, our governments have decided that reversion of the land bisecting the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation reserve is the first step in the process of developing a shared vision for the future of the corridor with First Nations.”
BC minister of transportation and infrastructure, Rob Fleming, says he understands that breaking up the E&N is not ideal, but that the province supports reversion of the lands. The decision doesn’t mean the corridor project is dead, though. 18 million dollars in funding is being committed for future corridor planning, involving affected First Nations and regional districts.
