The image shown is the vision of the Vancouver Island Corridor we've had for 18 years.

Established in 2003, the Island Corridor Foundation obtained the 289km railroad in 2006 and has been trying to bring rails and trails to islanders ever since.

The Federal Liberal Government and the BC NDP appear to have only offered First Nations land allocated to the rail right of way instead of maintaining the continuous corridor and working out another deal instead.  They have also appeared to have wielded the public discord over whether to use the railway for a Rail to Trail conversion (a minority) or keep it rails (the majority) painting an envisioning process as a way to work that out and not simply $18 million wasted to push the decision beyond the previous provincial election.

Every poll and survey conducted on Vancouver Island has shown support of 75% or greater for trains returning to the corridor, yet our voices are being subdued.  Rails are getting ripped up in two key locations and the Nations are suing the Island Corridor Foundation and the Federal Government. 

We need help to bring everyone together to recreate the vision of rails and trails, one where the Nations benefit from it as well.  I'm not ok with critical infrastructure being destroyed in the reconciliation process, but I would be perfectly ok with the entire rail corridor being First Nations owned and operated. That's been done in two other locations in Canada.  Why not here? 

Warren Skaalrud
Petitioner