MILTON, Ontario — A Canadian court has blocked Canadian National Railway’s plans for its Milton Logistics Hub, a $250 million intermodal project first proposed in 2015 and approved by the federal government in 2021.

While the government attached 325 environmental conditions to the approval [see “Canadian National’s proposed Toronto-area intermodal terminal …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 25, 2021], a federal court on Friday ruled that the government had failed to consider the adverse human impact of diesel exhaust from both locomotives and the 800 trucks per day that would visit the terminal. [An 800-truck-per-day cap was one of the conditions imposed in 2021].

The Bay Observer news site reports that Justice Henry S. Brown wrote that diesel exhaust contains “pollutants, some of which are known to be toxic to human health, in respect of which there is no safe level of human exposure.” Brown called it “inexplicable” that the impact on humans was not considered in the government’s decision.

The court ruling means the federal government must now reconsider the project, including a full evaluation of its health impacts.

“This has been a long battle to protect the health of our residents,” Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz told Halton Hills Today. “We are delighted that our concerns have been heard.”

CN said in a statement that it is still reviewing the decision but reiterated its commitment to the Milton facility as “a critical piece of infrastructure” in the Toronto area, Canada’s fastest growing region, “where new capacity is needed to meet the growing demand for goods.” Doug MacDonald, CN executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said in the statement, “The Canadian government has stated its commitment to addressing supply chain issues and improving Canada’s transportation system to make life more affordable for Canadians; this project is fundamental to that effort.”

The Milton facility would be CN’s fourth intermodal terminal in the Toronto area. The other three are already operating at capacity.

— Updated at 7:25 a.m. CT with CN statement.

It’s officially one week from the Milton by-election.

In seven days, our community will have a new provincial representative. There are nine candidates and seven parties on the ballot this time around. Ahead of election day, FM 101 Milton has reached out to each candidate to provide them an opportunity to share their platform.

That includes Galen Naidoo Harris, Ontario Liberal Party candidate for Milton. Here’s our interview:

INT – As we start things off here, give me an elevator pitch on your platform/campaign.

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INT – You touched on transit a bit there. I’ll give you a chance to dive deeper on it here. Miltonians are obviously very vocal about wanting all-day, two-way GO service. Where do you stand on transit here in Milton?

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INT – I’ve been prefacing this next question with each candidate because I feel like my wording always needs context. I’ve worked with this station since 2018, shortly after Parm Gill was first elected as MPP. So, in that time, I’ve obviously interviewed him a lot. He always highlighted his efforts on bringing new schools to Milton. Obviously, with the town’s growth, we still need more schools. What’s your plan for education in Milton?

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INT – Many local groups are looking to fight back against environmental issues here in Milton. I’ve been highlighting the CN Intermodal Hub as one – I know it’s mostly a federal issue, but Parm Gill was always asked to comment on it as well. Another one though, which I’m sure you’re aware of, is the Campbellville Quarry. Do you plan on addressing these issues and helping these residents should you be elected as MPP?

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INT – The provincial government issued a growth mandate, forcing Milton and the rest of Halton to reach certain population number by 2051. People have their opinions on development, whether it’s positive, negative, everything in between. What is your stance on development, specifically rapid development?

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INT – Alright, before I wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to add that I haven’t asked about?

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Learn more about Naidoo Harris’ platform here.

Again, these interviews will be released daily on a first come, first served basis ahead of election day on Thursday, May 2nd. If we do not publish an interview with a candidate ahead of that date, it’s because they chose not to accept our invitation. All interviewed candidates will be asked the same questions and provided with the same opportunity to share their opinions.

Everything you need to know about the Milton by-election ahead of voting day can be found here.

If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.

MILTON, Ontario, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At Milton Hydro Distribution Inc. safety is a top priority for both their customers and employees. Part of that commitment to safety is ensuring that the community understands how to stay safe around electricity and electrical equipment. As such, the local utility has partnered with UtilityPulse, an independent feedback gathering company, to conduct an Electrical Safety Awareness Survey in the form of a short quiz. The survey is open to all residents, age 18 and up, of Milton and the Milton Hydro service area, including Campbellville.

The survey runs from March 1-15, 2024, and will be accessed through Milton Hydro’s website. Although some general demographic information is collected to help Milton Hydro better target their educational campaigns in the future, participants won’t be asked to provide any identifying details, nor will their individual results be shared with anyone other than the participants.

The quiz format of the survey includes six (6) quick questions that are focused on common electrical safety concerns such as safe distances from powerlines, how to locate underground electrical lines before construction projects, safe behaviour around green transformers, and vehicle safety around downed powerlines. The quiz will only take approximately five (5) minutes to complete and can be accessed via this link - http://selfserve.decipherinc.com/b/1f95/g2cc/240214?list=2

With a focus on education, the quiz will provide participants with their results along with the correct answers to ensure adoption of electrical safety knowledge. To further increase awareness within the community, participants are encouraged to take the quiz with young children present and to share the link with the young adults in their household over the age of 18, as well.

The survey results will be analyzed to better understand the level of awareness of common safe electrical practices in the Milton community and how the utility can continue to improve their educational campaigns in the future.

Milton Hydro conducts the Public Awareness of Electrical Safety Survey every two years in accordance with the Ontario Energy Board’s (OEB) requirements. The results of the study are then included in the OEB Utility Scorecard. Past results can be reviewed on the OEB’s website - https://www.oeb.ca/ontarios-energy-sector/performance-assessment/electricity-utility-scorecards.

For further questions about the Milton Hydro Public Awareness of Electrical Safety Survey, please contact Milton Hydro at (905)876-4611.

How to read the results table

More from Where to Buy Real Estate

Home buying tools and calculators

Best places to buy real estate in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills

In the table below, you’ll find the top neighbourhoods for real estate purchases in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills. To view all the data, slide the columns right or left using your fingers or mouse. You can download the data to your device in Excel, CSV and PDF formats.

Source: Zoocasa

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Top three neighbourhoods in Halton

What’s happened in the Halton Region real estate market?

Unlike most other real estate markets in Canada, where home prices reached their highest levels in the summer of 2023, Halton Region’s benchmark home price peaked in December at $1,302,551. Price growth was relatively steady throughout 2023. The benchmark home price was $1,122,501 in January and grew by about 15% to $1,294,251 in June, before cooling off for much of the fall.

“The Bank of Canada interest rate hike in July 2023 had a cooling effect on buyers,” says local Zoocasa real estate agent Kristian Canadic. “Sellers had the mindset that if they held on a little bit longer, prices would continue to go up. This ‘real estate always goes up’ mentality keeps sellers resistant to selling.”

High prices and interest rates also impacted buyers’ preferences. Though buyers in Halton Region are typically drawn to detached homes, demand shifted as interest rates went up and affordability tightened. “With prices for detached homes pushing the limits of affordability, townhomes have grown in popularity,” says Canadic. “Similarly because of affordability issues, people have been more willing to look at second-best options which are a little further out from core areas.”

What’s next for real estate in Halton Region?

The trajectory of home prices in Halton Region is largely dependent on when or if interest rates drop. In January, the benchmark home price of $1,143,518 was up about 2% year-over-year, but down about 12% month-over-month. Prospective home buyers are optimistic about a potential interest rate drop this year, but enthusiasm may cool if rates are held for longer than anticipated.

“I don’t think this year will be much different from last year,” says Canadic. “Coming out of the gate in January, there has been a lot of enthusiasm from sellers and buyers because of the expectation that interest rates are coming down, so we saw a pickup in activity. However, I think that headwinds have been building against more affordable conditions that lead the market [back] to the 2022 highs.” Barring significant changes in the economy, future rate drops “may be smaller and further out than people have been expecting,” he says.

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The Milton by-election is right around the corner and you might be looking to get to know the candidates better before voting day.

We’ve reached out to all nine candidates from the seven listed political parties to learn more about each person. We’ll release the interviews daily on a first come, first served basis.

Starting off, we have Kyle Hutton, Ontario Green Party candidate for Milton.

Here’s our interview with Hutton:

INT – Give me an elevator pitch on your platform/campaign.

Audio Player

INT – One of the ongoing issues people in Milton seem to have is transit, particularly the all-day, two-way GO service. Where do you stand on that?

Audio Player

INT – I’ve been here with the station since 2018, so I came in right around the time that (now former) Milton MPP Parm Gill was first elected to the seat. In the time since, I’ve gotten to know him pretty well from a reporter-standpoint and he talked a lot about his efforts to bring new schools to Milton. Still, people say more needs to be done. Should you be elected next month, what’s your plan for helping education in Milton?

Audio Player

INT – You mentioned the Cambellville Quarry earlier, and that’s actually a part of my next question. A lot of local groups are working to fight back against environmental issues in Milton: the quarry, and also you have the CN Intermodel Hub. Do you plan on addressing these concerns and helping these residents with their cause?

Audio Player

INT – Milton is famous for its growth. It’s often been hailed over the years as one of, if not the fastest growing communities in Canada. The provincial government has issued a growth mandate for Milton and Halton, forcing them to reach a certain population number by 2051. What’s your stance on development – the positives, negatives, and everything in between?

Audio Player

INT – I always ask my interviewees at the end if they have anything they’d like to add, whether it’s something I forgot to ask about or what. Do you have anything else you want to share before I let you go?

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Learn more about Hutton and the Ontario Greens here.

Again, these interviews will be released daily as a first come, first served basis ahead of election day on Thursday, May 2nd. If we do not publish an interview with a candidate ahead of that date, it’s because they chose not to accept our invitation. All interviewed candidates will be asked the same questions and provided with the same opportunity to share their opinions.

Everything you need to know about the Milton by-election ahead of voting day can be found here.

If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.