The Canadian Pacific Railway Company (now Canadian Pacific Kansas City) has been officially cleared of all liability in relation to the 2013 Lac-Mégantic train disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 47 people. Victims and their families had sought to hold the railway accountable, arguing that CP failed to alert the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, the operator of the train, that the crude oil being transported from North Dakota to New Brunswick was improperly labelled. However, after CP won in both Superior Court and the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the case, effectively ending any legal pursuit against the company. The tragic derailment on July 6, 2013, caused a massive explosion that devastated Lac-Mégantic's downtown core. Prior to these proceedings, a $460-million compensation fund had been established for victims, families, and creditors of the bankrupt Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, though CP had declined to contribute, citing lack of responsibility. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal was issued without public explanation, consistent with the court's standard practice. The ruling concludes a long legal chapter stemming from one of Canada’s deadliest rail disasters, leaving the existing compensation arrangements in place and CP free from further claims related to the incident.

The Canadian Pacific Railway Company has been cleared of all liability in the Lac-Mégantic, Que., train disaster that claimed 47 lives in 2013. Several parties, including the victims and their familie...