Comments by Member of Parliament Bill Blaikie about the Canadian National Railway and the CPR.

House of Commons Debates  Ottawa   November 8, 1982.
Nationalize the CPR.
Mr. William Alexander (Bill) Blaikie (Winnipeg-Bird's Hill, Manitoba); New Democratic Party.
Mr. Blaikie:
     "The CPR, by recently laying off 1,100 workers at its shops in Winnipeg when there is plenty of rolling stock to repair, is certainly not demonstrating any faith in Canada and can hardly be said to be preparing to take advantage of a future economic recovery...It appears that the CPR does not really expect a recovery...Therefore I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Winnipeg North (Mr. Orlikow) that the CPR for once to act like a decent corporate citizen and, failing that, that the CPR be nationalized so that finally we might have a railway system in this country which serves the public interest."
House of Commons Debates Ottawa  March 1, 2002.
     "Mr. Speaker, the behaviour of Canada's railways continues to concern both the railroaders and the general public. CN in particular has become a Canadian railway in name only, increasingly run by American managers only here for a short career move. Jobs are being funneled into the United States...the next casualty may well be Symington Yards in Winnipeg with CN proposing to move a portion of its marshaling to Wisconsin. When will the government act to stop this tragic gutting of a once proud Canadian institution, a gutting I might add that it started with this ridiculous, treacherous and traitorous privatization of the CNR?"