Several Prairie grain grower groups want extensions of interim rules and penalties for railways, as they don’t expect federal grain transport reports to take effect until at least this fall.
(Picture/AGCanada.com)
According to an article on www.AGCanada.com, a proposed “Transportation 2030” package of rail reforms will introduce reciprocal penalties and other measures meant to improve accountability in grain handling.
Despite concerns, Transportation Minister Marc Garneau says he expects to introduce legislation this spring.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to introduce legislation that’ll ensure a more responsive, competitive and accountable rail system,” Kevin Auch, the chairperson of the Alberta Wheat Commission, said in the article. “But the current railway accountability measures must stay in place.”
He’s referring to the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act passed by the former Conservative government in 2014. It extended inter-switching rights for up to 160 kilometres for grain and all other commodities across the prairies.
“Grain farmers have seen the positive impact of the emergency measures put in place,” said Grain Growers of Canada President Jeff Nielsen. “We urge Garneau to extend the provisions, particularly those related to inter-switching, until the Transportation 2030 legislation is enacted.”
– Posted by BET
