Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has restarted discussions with the Canadian National Railway (CN) on the Milton Logistics Hub Project.

The $250 million project aims to construct and operate a logistics hub in Milton, ON, where containers can be transferred between trucks and railcars.

CN is meeting with Six Nations about the possibilities with the project, including Six Nations of the Grand River being provided with land and other benefits, like a scholarship and business and employment opportunities to Six Nations members. CN is looking to have Six Nations' Chief Mark Hill sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

SNEC was presented the recommendation by the Consultation and Accommodation Process (CAP) team on Nov. 28. CAP team members Lonny Bomberry and Phillip Monture spoke on what purpose the land would serve in the Milton Logistics Hub Project and said that it will serve as a greenspace to counter the air pollutants and adverse effects the project will have on the environment.

"It's just the beginning of these discussion because certain commitments were made by CN when we were going through the community engagement process in Milton and setting aside a tract of land and reforestation to counter act the pollution that's going to be created in that area," Monture said.

"It's a substantial tract of land, actually, [whether it be] for wildlife or forestry and, eventually, under the control of Six Nations."

Monture also spoke on the eagerness to move these discussion forward.

"If we wait much longer, the Milton Hub will be built on us and we'll be sitting in the grass waiting for someone to talk to again."

Coun. Sherri-Lyn Hill spoke on her hopes to have SNEC make a statement on where Six Nations stands on these issues and others, including Bill 23 or the More Homes Built Faster Act. The bill was passed to help the provincial government's goal of having 1.5 million homes built over the next 10 years, and aims to do so by reducing costs and delays in construction, and promoting housing construction near major transit stations and building more attainable homes. Hill added that if SNEC would be advocating for the environment on the Milton Hub Project, she would also like to see the same advocating being done in situations like housing developments going up on the greenbelt due to Bill 23.

"I think we really need to grab a handle on where Six Nations at and where's our voice?" Hill said.

The recommendation was moved and carried by SNEC to have Chief Mark Hill sign the MOU with CN.

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