The Capital Regional District is asking on the federal and provincial governments to settle land claims with Indigenous groups in an effort to revive Vancouver Island’s rail corridor.
In a data launch Thursday, the CRD board launched its help for the Island Corridor Foundation’s title to settle the land claims to advance rail journey as a transportation chance on the island.
“We’ve to have important conversations with communities alongside the Island Rail Corridor about our shared future,” talked about CRD board chair Colin Plant. “We want to maintain selections open for progress and enchancment whereas listening to and respecting pursuits of native First Nations.”
The 295-kilometre rail corridor is owned by the non-profit foundation, which has prolonged advocated to revive rail service alongside the earlier Esquimalt and Nanaimo (E&N) Railway route.
The Snaw-Naw-As Nation launched a courtroom docket downside last 12 months in search of a portion of the corridor that crosses its reserve near Nanoose, BC, after its preliminary courtroom docket declare was denied.
The BC Courtroom docket of Attraction has given the federal authorities until March 2023 to seek out out its intent for the corridor sooner than the nation can return to courtroom docket and ask for the land to be returned.
Settling the declare is crucial to any future enchancment of that portion of the corridor.
“The CRD board has continually acknowledged the Island Rail Corridor as a key aspect of the regional transportation system,” the directors talked about throughout the launch.
“After Indigenous claims are settled, enchancment of the corridor would entail further in-depth financial analysis working with regional districts, municipalities, and nations in partnership with the provincial and federal governments.”
A variety of analysis over time have estimated the value of restoring all or part of the rail line for commuter use at between $430 million and $1 billion.