CN Rail sues pro-Palestinian protesters over blockade

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This article was published 27/11/2023 (692 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CN Rail is suing a group of pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked the company’s main train line for hours and is asking for a court order preventing them from doing it again.

In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench the day after the Nov. 20 blockade, CN Rail claims it suffered financial damages while its customers faced increased costs for shipping.

CN says the line the protesters blocked carries more than $350 million worth of goods each day for 90 or more customers on trains between 110 to 190 cars in length.

CN says the blockade, which was first reported on Nov. 20 at 2:31 p.m. and lasted about five hours, caused 16 freight trains to roll to a halt while also leaving stranded two VIA Rail passenger trains with a total of 176 passengers.

The lawsuit claims CN not only lost money, but has continued to suffer losses including to its business reputation.

The lawsuit names Dasha Plett, a spokesperson for Queers for Palestine-Winnipeg, the group that organized the blockade, but because no one else was named at the time of the blockade, the court action includes the additional names of John and Jane Doe and persons unknown.

The protesters said last week they were blocking one of the country’s major transportation routes because one of CN Rail’s freight customers is an Israel-based company named Zim Integrated Shipping Services.

When the blockade was taken down, the organizers said in a social media post: “We held the CN Rail blockade for five hours, costing CN millions of dollars and disrupting the Canadian economy. We’re done for the night but the movement is only growing. We won’t stop until the siege on Gaza is ended and Palestine is free.”

Plett would not comment on the court action.

Instead, a person who wished to be described as an anonymous supporter of the group, returned the call and said the group hasn’t been officially served with the lawsuit.

“Everybody who was on the rail tracks that day was expecting CN Rail would apply for an injunction,” they said.

“Any action CN Rail takes against protesters should be seen as part of a continuum of oppression against the Free Palestine movement.”

Meanwhile, CN wants the courts to issue an order to prevent future blockades on any of its property including its railway lines as well as its rights of way.

The claim points to the group’s pledge to not stop as a sign further disruptions are possible.

”There is a high probability of further blockades resulting in further irreparable harm that cannot be quantified in monetary terms,” the lawsuit says.

“CN says that the relief sought is required in order to prevent and avoid further harm.”

CN was unable to provide comment before deadline. No statement of defence has been filed and lawsuit’s claims have not been proven in court.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca