A union group claims CP Rail has pulled out of the bidding for BC Rail amid allegations CN is getting preferential treatment.
 
The claim is being made by Bob Sharpe, the chair of the Council of Trade Unions at BC Rail.
 
He says CP has sent the government a letter saying it felt the government has given CN the inside track on the BC Rail deal and accusing the Liberals of breach of principle.
 
Transportation Minister Judith Reid has denied previous reports the government will sell BC Rail to Canadian National, calling them speculation.
 
Reid says she's confident she can overcome the concerns of CP Rail in the bidding for BC Rail. She says CP has put together a good proposal and remains in the running to take over BC Rail operations.
 
She says she's looking foward to speaking to the company to show its concerns are unjustified.
 
The government has been under fire from the unions, the NDP, and many northern residents over its privatization plan.
 
Opposition leader Joy MacPhail was kicked out of the legislature yesterday for accusing Premier Campbell of lying when he promised during the 2001 election campaign that he would not sell the railway.
 
Campbell says only the railway operations will be sold, while the province retains ownership of the tracks and rights of way."
 
Author unknown.