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Omnitrax president Merv Tweed, the former MP for the Brandon-Souris riding, said the idea of hauling oil by rail is new and it will take time for people to get used to the concept. The shipment of crude oil by rail is perfectly safe and the tracks don’t require any additional upgrade, Tweed said.

“When you aren’t aware of all the facts, it’s easy to misunderstand what’s being attempted or what we’re trying to do,” Tweed said in an interview. “We have to make sure that they understand that we know what we’re doing and what we’re trying to do and that we will do it with all the environmental and safety issues dealt with as regulated.”

The company has been holding consultations in the north to try to quell public skepticism and ease concerns about the plan. A trial shipment of oil slated for next month is on hold while the company continues these consultations, Tweed said.

Omnitrax is determined to grow the port of Churchill while bringing jobs and prosperity to northern Manitoba, he added.

“We have to look at any and all ways of continuing to grow traffic through the port,” Tweed said. “The return on that is the fact that communities create jobs and opportunities … and young people get to stay where they want to live and enjoy a living.”

But First Nations, who still rely on the wilderness for their living, are concerned moving crude oil through their traditional territory will threaten their way of life.

Grand Chief Irvin Sinclair, with the Keewatin Tribal Council, said people still hunt and trap on the land. One derailment or spill is all it would take to destroy the livelihood of generations, Sinclair said.

“There goes the wildlife,” he said. “There goes a way of life for everybody if something drastic happens … It would be devastating to the environment.”