Whereas the loss of the former rail lines, including the Squamish-Cariboo,which may ensue from CN Rails plans announced in July 2025 to terminate its lease, would result in shippers being forced to use highercost truck transport, increased public highway maintenance costs, loss of passenger tourist or commuter rail opportunity, higher GHG emissions, loss of transportation corridor redundancy affecting Western Canada, and constrained regional economic development; And whereas rail discontinuance policies applying to the former BC Rail line do not necessarily account for regional and longterm transportation needs and priorities, and may undermine the economic viability of potential new shortline operators, while infrastructure funding solutions for maintaining this valuable rail line remain lacking: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM encourage the provincial and federal governments to consider establishing a new regional authority or ownership structure including First Nations and to support a transition to a shortline operator model to strengthen regional enterprise while maintaining the strategic redundancy of all former rail lines, and further be encouraged to explore potential publicprivate funding solutions for ongoing rail line maintenance.
