A federal judge has overturned a quarter billion-dollar decision by then-Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Federal Court faulted Wilkinson for “inexplicable” conduct in the 2021 case.

“At issue is a very large $250 million intermodal container transfer facility,” wrote Justice Henry Brown. It was “a matter of common sense” that Minister Wilkinson had to answer local ratepayers’ concerns but failed to do so, he said.

Cabinet at Wilkinson’s direction licensed construction of a Canadian National Railway megaproject west of Toronto. The Railway sought to build a container yard with 24-hour service by four freight trains and 800 trucks daily.