No vegetation control spraying on Canadian Pacific tracks this year

05/24/2018

The Public Safety Unit of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that there will be no vegetation control spraying of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) tracks this year.

The decision was made after meetings were held between the MCK, Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office, the Public Safety Unit, Sonja Jacobs  (community member), and the CP Vegetation Manager to discuss this year’s plans for vegetation control.

The Vegetation Manager outlined the safety reasons for ensuring the tracks are free from vegetation and stated that the bare minimum of chemicals are used. However, after discussing the issue, it was agreed that spraying may only be required every second year. Therefore, the decision was made to cancel this year’s operation.

The situation will be closely monitored and a follow-up assessment will be made mid-season.

The Vegetation Manager also stated that, if there is an issue, alternate methods would be tried. However, as this is a safety issue, CP could not make a total commitment to discontinue the use of some chemicals.