CP Rail Vegetation Management Program to proceed, Working Group to look at possible alternatives

06/14/2017

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) announced today that the CP Railway Vegetation Management Program will proceed as scheduled after a discussion between representatives of a group of concerned community members and the MCK.

The MCK received a letter last week protesting the spraying of herbicide on the tracks and demanded a healthier alternative be used.

“After meeting with Council Chiefs, Public Safety officials, the Chief Peacekeeper and the representatives, a proposal was put forth to coordinate a working group,” said Ratsénhaienhs Bobby Patton, who holds the Public Safety portfolio for the MCK. “The proposal will be initiated with the end goal of working together to come up with potential, safe and realistic alternatives before next year.”

“The MCK supports the Vegetation Management Program as a matter of safety,” he continued. “In the meantime, the application of the herbicide has not yet taken place, due to the weather conditions. As we’ve stated before, by law this can only take place under ideal conditions, with no rain and winds of less than 8 kilometers-per-hour.”

As per usual practice, the community will be advised when the application of the herbicide will take place.

“We are also in the process of planning to meet with the area residents to discuss this issue directly with them,” he concluded.