CN lawsuit alleges $270M in freight was hit by rail blockade in northern B.C.

CN Rail is suing protesters who allegedly blocked dozens of its trains in northern B.C. in February in support of the Wet'suwet'en Nation.

The railway company said a two-day protest action in New Hazelton affected nearly 5,000 freight cars, stranding the Port of Prince Rupert and backing up rail traffic as far east as Winnipeg. 

CN filed the civil suit in February against unnamed demonstrators who blocked the major rail line with lawn chairs, tents and pallets between Smithers and Terrace on Feb. 8 and 9.

CN claims it suffered "significant economic damage." The railway said it transports freight worth $135 million a day along the line from B.C.'s North Coast port to Canadian and U.S. markets.

The railway is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages, a permanent injunction against rail blockaders' "unlawful and unauthorized" conduct, and an enforcement order for police.

"CN is and will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted," according to the civil claim.

None of the allegations has been proven in court. A statement of defence has yet to be filed.

The court document also makes reference to the economic impact of protest actions in the Vancouver area. 

Soon after the northern rail blockade ended, CN states that protesters gathered on its southern line near the Burrard track on Feb. 10. The company said it temporarily suspended rail service there out of concern for public safety, disrupting operations at the Port of Vancouver.

"This is a serious issue to be tried regarding the unlawful and unauthorized trespassing to its lands, [and] the interference with its business," the claim stated. 

In a financial update this week, CN discussed the economic impact of numerous rail blockades nationwide in February, all mounted in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposing construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

"The illegal blockades really had an unfortunate impact on us,'' said CN chief financial officer Ghislain Houle.

Houle noted there were more than 30 rail blockades in February, halting rail traffic in many parts of the country.

CN shut down its eastern network on Feb. 13, one week into a blockade by the Tyendinaga Mohawk First Nation that cut a key rail link east of Belleville, Ont.

In March, a report from the Parliamentary Budget Office said the series of rail blockades would leave a minimal dent in the pace of economic growth. 

The report estimated the blockades would shave two-tenths of a percentage point off economic growth for the first quarter, with the effects dissipating through the rest of 2020

New data from Statistics Canada released Wednesday showed that in February, the country's transportation sector shrank by 1.1. per cent as some rail traffic was halted across the country during rail blockades.

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