The balkanization of the Canadian National Railway.

The People's Railway - a timeline.
1918  - The government of Canada creates the CNR, my country's first Crown corporation.

1966 - Demolition of Union Station in downtown Ottawa is halted after immense public opposition.

1970 -  CN attempts to demolish many properties on the south side of Front Street in Toronto, including Union Station and the Dominion Public Building. The Crown corporation backs down after fierce opposition to their plan.

1974 -  The Hilton Corporation expresses an interest in buying the CN Hotels. The Liberal government refuses their offer, saying that the properties are not for sale, and if they were they would  go to a Canadian corporation such as the Skyline.

1977 -  Via Rail is founded in Montreal, the Crown corporation provides passenger service. Today, during the year 2020, 98% of the infrastructure used by Via Rail is owned and managed by CN and the Canadian Pacific Railway; and the CNR and CPR have priority use of the tracks. Canadian taxpayers have to pay Bill Gates and other shareholders so that Via can use their tracks.

1980 - CN announces that they are creating a real estate subsidiary. The Trudeau government conducts an inventory of their real estate holdings:
100,000 acres of land.
Thousands of train stations.
Roundhouses including the Spadina Roundhouse on the Toronto lakeshore.
Hotels
CN Towers in Toronto, Edmonton, Saskatoon and London, Ontario.
Bridges.
Shops in Moncton, New Brunswick, Point St-Charles, Montreal and the Transcona Shops, Winnipeg.
Tunnels.
Office buildings and warehouses.

1982 -  The Hotel du Canada becomes part of a pavilion at Epcot Center, Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The Hotel du Canada is modeled after Ottawa's Chateau Laurier and is a permanent showcase.

A model of the Canadian pavilion, Epcot Center in Florida.

1987 - The Conservative government is contemplating the sale of CNR property:
House of Commons Debates - Hansard - December 1, 1987:

Mr. George Baker:
"Mr. Speaker, the Minister says that the non-rail assets of CN are under consideration for sale. All right, the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the world, is a non-rail asset. Is the CN Tower now under consideration for sale?"
Hon. John Crosbie:
"Mr. Speaker, I think I have pointed out all the non-rail assets...Now, unless the CN Tower can go choo-choo-chooing along, it is a non-rail asset."

1988 -  Most of the CNR hotels are sold to the real estate arm of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Marathon Realty.

1993 - The government of Canada sells millions of dollars worth of property to the Crown corporation for $1 dollar, including the Quebec Bridge.

1995 - The railway is privatized.

2006 - The richest man in the world Bill Gates becomes a major shareholder. The Crown corporation  was created to unite this country and to provide passenger and mail service, especially to remote areas. It was not created to further enrich foreign investors.

2007 -  The Headquarters in Montreal are sold for $335 million dollars.

The Shops located at Point-St-Charles, Montreal.