Charest brings credibility to rail dream even if Selinger may be unable to see it through

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/01/2016 (3590 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This week, Premier Greg Selinger took a major step closer to realizing the dream of relocating the CPR Winnipeg Yards. Unfortunately for him, it is getting increasingly unlikely he will be at the controls if and when this dream becomes a reality.

On Thursday, Selinger revealed he had recruited former Quebec premier Jean Charest to head an as-yet named task force to study rail relocation in Winnipeg and formulate a plan to move forward. Theoretically at least, this task force is supposed to include participation from both CP and CN.

Make no mistake about it, this is a deft bit of politics on the part of the premier. Charest is a heavy-hitter, a political figure with both the gravitas and the influence to lend some much-needed credibility to the rail relocation plan.

It was also very cleverly timed. Starting Wednesday, the province is under a pre-election publication ban that will last through to the April 19 election. It prevents the Selinger government, including its Crowns and agencies, from making any significant announcement.

The Charest appointment comes just under that wire. Even so, there are questions now about whether the former first minister could make appointments to his task force or otherwise demonstrate progress in getting the railways to sit down and talk relocation without violating the blackout.

For now, Selinger will be relying on the fact that this is one of the boldest and most impactful ideas to ever be floated by a Manitoba premier. The impact of the premier’s ruminations on this project — floated late last year in the throne speech for the fall session of the Manitoba — were limited not by a lack of support but by a shortage of faith that it could ever come to fruition.

Most Manitobans love the idea. In a recent Free Press-Probe Research poll, nearly 60 per expressed support for the idea; only 23 per cent opposed. First ministers will tell you that anytime you have an issue with clear, strong majority support, it’s one worth pursuing.

The problem is most Manitobans are also of the opinion it’s not realistic to expect the rail yards to relocate. That it’s too expensive and disruptive, and that the railways themselves will try to (pun intended) derail the whole initiative. The Charest appointment is clearly an effort to cause those skeptics to re-think their positions, and perhaps create some buzz around the NDP government as it heads into a critical date with voters.

Selinger is right to point out that the estimated $1 billion needed to build bridges and tunnels over and under the CPR Central Yards is really not money well spent. And that relocating the yards is, in the long run, the better value with a better outcome. Selinger clearly hopes Charest’s involvement will show some voters there is more to this plan than high hopes.

First and foremost, Charest is hardly in need of the work. Since leaving politics unceremoniously — his government was unseated by the Parti Québecois in a 2012 election, in which Charest lost his own seat — the former first minister has gone back to practise high-level law. It certainly seems Charest believes in Selinger’s dream; he has precious little to gain and quite a bit to lose from hitching his wagon to a hopeless cause.

Second, Charest certainly does have the gravitas and skill set to sit down face to face with the CEOs of the railways, renowned as among the toughest and most unyielding business leaders in the country. He is a constant and welcomed presence in the rarified air of corporate Canada.

Charest’s challenge is to get the two major railways to agree to admit publicly that they are willing to at least sit down and talk about potential relocation scenarios. Both CN and CP will likely need to be at the table given that the rationalization of railways through Winnipeg will require some co-ordination between the two competitors.

That participation seemed to be somewhat in doubt Thursday when representatives of the railways made a hasty exit from the news conference announcing Charest’s appointment without facing the media.

Prior to this announcement, CN and CP expressed only mild support for assisting the province to study the issue of relocation. However, and perhaps most importantly, they have said they will participate in the process Charest is now leading.

It’s important to realize there is, at this stage, no benefit for the railways to demonstrate much in the way of support for a relocation plan.

Federal legislation that oversees projects like this ensures a railway can neither lose nor gain materially from a relocation. In reality, a scenario in which the government pays the gross majority of the costs of relocation is a potential win for the railways. The principles of negotiating strategy dictate, at this point, that they refrain from showing too much of their hands.

This most recent development in one of the most fascinating stories in Manitoba politics certainly should set chins wagging in this, the critical period before an April 19 election. Less certain is who the rail relocation task force will be reporting to come April 20.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca