EDITORIAL: Trespassing claim early

It looks like Fort William First Nation Chief Georjann Morriseau might have played her ace in the hole a hand too early.

Morriseau last Friday issued a news release stating it’s the belief of the First Nation that Canadian National Railway is trespassing on their land.

She urged the company to strongly consider an offer put forward by the City of Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation at a meeting last week.

Instead the railway said it was stepping away from negotiations until the land claim was decided.

The way the Canadian court system works, this could take months, if not years, to decide.

Meanwhile the company continues to use the bridge for rail traffic and does not have to reopen it to vehiclular traffic, which in the end is hurting Fort William First Nation businesses.

Morriseau would have been better off holding her cards close to her chest, waiting to see how CN responded to the joint proposal she and Mayor Keith Hobbs put forward.

Poking a sleeping bear like CN is a dangerous game. City officials are convinced the company is responsible for the upkeep of the bridge whether or not they’re using it commercially. The courts may say otherwise.

Morriseau, by showing her cards too early, has lost a huge advantage in this ongoing battle.