Gitxsan calls on Alberta to assess rail lines in its territory

The Gitxsan Huwilp Government is turning its calls for an inspection of the Canadian National Railway (CN) through its territory to the Alberta government.

On Tuesday, the First Nation called on B.C. to halt all rail traffic through its territory until the railway from Burns Lake to Prince Rupert was inspected.

This was in response to a derailment near Port Edward due to a landslide, which CN said saw 1,000 litres of fuel spill from the locomotive’s fuel tank.

The railway added measures to prevent the further spread of fuel have been implemented.

“While we blindly put trust in [CN’s] environmental consultants, we must stress that engineers are needed to immediately start investigating the health of the 114-year-old rail line that runs through the Gitxsan territory,” said Simogyet Moolaxan. (Hereditary Chief Norman Moore)

He added the First Nation has reached out to B.C. ministries and said they were silent on the issue.

“Avalanche Canada has already alerted the high risk of more landslide activity. The next derailment could be catastrophic,” Moolaxan said.

The Gitxsan is calling for a four-person committee to be made between it, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, CN, and the Alberta Governnment with four engineers engaged.

“Indigenous food security and Alberta’s oil market is at stake,” said Moolaxan.

CN said it has reopened the rail line where the landslide occurred as site clean up continues.

With Files: Kolten Bezooyen, My Prince Rupert Now