Via Rail to use buses on 'Day of Action'

Lisa Jemison
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Kingston Whig-Standard

Via Rail will move its passen-gers by bus if the national 'Day of Action' by First Nations creates a blockade on rail lines in the Kingston corridor.

Catherine Kaloutsky, a spokesperson for Via Rail, said although the company is continuing with business as normal, it is carefully monitoring the situation for any changes.

"At this point, there is no indication that Via passenger trains will be affected directly," she said.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and should there be any effect on our services, we'll take steps for specific remedial measures."

There are 11 trains on Friday's regular schedule from Kingston to Toronto.

She said in similar situations in the past, the company received no advance notice of any disruption to services. During the railway blockade earlier this spring, she said, Via was able to get buses for passengers already on trains.

However, she added, there was not "sufficient alternative access" to other transportation and Via had to cancel service for a period of time.

"The rail lines were shut down and no buses were available," she said.

The contingency plan is in response to a planned demonstration Friday by the Kingston Mohawk Support Network at the Via station to emphasize First Nations issues that remain unresolved, including land claims and clean drinking water.

The demonstration will show "solidarity and support" for First Nations peoples across Canada, said Jeff Welsh, spokesperson for the network, following a news conference. Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine has declared Friday a national action day for First Nations.

Welsh told the Whig-Standard some participants in Friday's demonstration may "choose to stand on the tracks to symbolically show their support."

Welsh said a representative from Via rail "did come out and he said [the demonstration] was a good idea."

He said the group has notified CN Rail of their plans for Friday, but haven't heard a response.

Although there is still speculation as to what will happen, said Mark Hallman, a media representative for CN Rail, the company has "had some notification about some reputed plans in Kingston." He said CN is taking steps to "ensure the safety and security" of its customers and CN plans to continue service.

"We've had long-standing and good relations with First Nations across Canada," he added.

Welsh said yesterday's news conference "highlighted and stressed" that the support network wants the demonstration to be a positive event.

"It's the first time in history that First Nations people from across Canada and their allies have spoken with one voice. We want our message to be positive," he said.

"We also want to make clear that this isn't just about this one day. It's about the unfair treatment and conditions of First Nations people, and about the legacy of colonialism in Canada," he added.

For some First Nations people fighting land claims, the struggle has lasted for years. For example, it took eight years to compile the research for the Culbertson Tract, a 923.5-acre stretch of land currently under land claim negotiations between the federal government and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (MBQ) said Brant Bardy, communications manager for MBQ .