Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré organized a roundtable meeting between representatives from all levels of government, community group representatives, and CN staff including a VP.
The roundtable meeting included individuals from the Gogama Local Services Board, Local Roads Board, Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Committee, Mattagami First Nation and local, provincial and federal government representatives.
The meeting allowed all to share their perspectives on CN’s response to and cleanup of the March 7, 2015 CN train derailment that resulted in a crude oil spill and fire that negatively impacted the local ecosystem.
“The oil spill in Gogama has been a priority of mine since before the election last October, and I have heard from residents and local stakeholders that there continues to be concerns about the cleanup process as well as the future of the derailment site,” said Serré.
“In response to these concerns and with support from Transport Minister Garneau I began work on organizing this roundtable discussion. Planning this meeting was no simple task however I am optimistic that an open and frank discussion between these critical stakeholders will lead to the best possible solutions for the people of Gogama and their beautiful surroundings. I’d like to commend all those who are participating which shows a willingness to come together and work towards a positive solution.”
Following the roundtable meeting, CN hosted a public meeting on Sept. 13 with an overview of the derailment and oil spill cleanup work completed to date, the current condition of the impacted site, as well as what next steps are being planned.
