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CN announced its plans to build the hub in March 2015 and the federally appointed review panel is expected to rule on it later this year or early 2019. The region’s court application could slow down the much-needed project even more. And it could raise costs for consumers.

We often take the movement of goods from manufacturer to retailer for granted and that’s a big problem. Here’s why: Right now, the population of the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) is around seven million people and choking on gridlock. Our national and regional economies are bleeding billions in lost productivity.

By 2041, a projected 10 million people will be living in the area. If we don’t build more quality transportation infrastructure — fast — costs and delays will surely increase.

Without adequate infrastructure, you and your family will pay more, and wait longer for the products you need. This is a problem not only for those living and doing business in the GTHA-Waterloo Region corridor, but also for our country. CN’s proposed transportation hub is part of the solution.

Canada’s goods movement system is already under stress. CN’s Brampton Intermodal Terminal (BIT), which handles more than one million containers annually, is at capacity. Hence, the need for a second facility at Milton, which would employ more than 100 people directly, and create 1,000 indirect jobs. CN’s BIT has been good for Brampton, creating significant employment, and attracting industry. These facilities are crucial for delivering local goods to export markets around the world. Transportation hubs are part of the solution — NIMBYism and excessive bureaucracy aren’t.