Editor’s Note: This letter is addressed to Rick Nicholls, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, but it was also sent to Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton, C-K-L MP Dave Epp and L-K-M MP Lianne Rood.
Sir: We, the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, representing employers and commerce in your community, are writing to you regarding the blockades occurring across Canada to ask you to work with the provinces and law enforcement agencies to bring an end to the ongoing disruptions of public services and particularly to restore all rail services immediately.
In addition to preventing access to public transportation for tens of thousands of individual Canadians, these disruptions severely limit the movement of perishable foods and other consumer items, grain, construction materials and propane for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
We are deeply concerned about the damage to the Canadian economy, the unfair denial of access to transportation services for Canadian citizens, and the undermining of the rule of law.
These illegal blockades, which also affect the movement of natural resources like timber, aluminum, coal and oil, will take an increasing toll if the government does not act decisively to restore order. Factories and mines may soon face difficult decisions about their ability to continue operations, and the damage to Canadian supply chains will extend beyond our borders and harm our reputation as a stable partner in international trade.
A rail disruption of this magnitude constitutes an emergency for the Canadian economy.
On behalf of the 350 businesses represented by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, and the many businesses of Chatham-Kent beyond our membership, we urge the government to act without further delay.
Gail Hundt
President & CEO
Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce
