Coal mining is an important contributor to Canada’s GDP – contributing an estimated about $5.2 billion in direct and indirect.  The industry benefits Canadians through employment, investment in physical infrastructure and taxes and royalties which help to pay for roads, schools and hospitals. Canada coal industry employs a highly skilled and diverse workforce.  Approximately 42,000 people are directly and indirectly employed by the coal industry. 
Western-based Westshore, Neptune and Ridley Terminals have see over $1 billion invested in improvements to the efficiency and capacity of their terminals.
In 2011, both CN and CP invested almost $3 billion on infrastructure and fleet upgrades. A significant amount of that investment supports coal shipments. CDN government might just shoot itself in the foot once and for all!