After decades of complaining about poor rail service for grain, western farmers and shippers say Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act, is close to what they’ve been asking for. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), which represents Western Canada’s major elevator companies, said it includes most of the changes it
Grain sector likes transportation act changes
Time will tell, but the industry says the Bill C-49 changes should lead to better grain service
Calls for a review of railway costs
Some farm groups suspect producers are paying more than was originally intended under the maximum revenue entitlement
When the railways start replacing hopper cars as expected if the Transportation Modernization Act becomes law, western farmers will pay more, in total, to ship grain to export. That’s because the maximum revenue entitlement (MRE) will be adjusted to pass on the purchase costs to shippers and ultimately farmers. Most farm and shipper groups agree
Nitty-gritty details in Bill C-49
The revenue cap stays, but railways can include the cost of new hoppers
It took a few days of intense review for the Western Grain Elevators Association (WGEA) before giving its blessing to the Transportation Modernization Act. Others were equally meticulous. “Every word does matter, and the order of the words matters,” Greg Cherewyk, Pulse Canada’s chief operating officer, said in an interview. And while Pulse Canada also
VIDEO: Testing soil health with cotton underwear
Local farmer offers up a patch of land for underground undie research
Soil specialist Marla Riekman and farmer Doug Wilton – whose patch of land has been zero-till for more than 30 years – talk about their ‘Soil Your Undies’ project with Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson on April 18, 2017.
MacAulay not saying if he’ll fix U.S. wheat-grading irritant
The U.S. and Canadian grain sectors agree American wheat delivered to Canada should be eligible for the same grades if the variety is registered in Canada — but will it take U.S. trade action to make it happen?
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has heard the Canadian grain sector’s request to fix a trade irritant over grading imported American wheat, but isn’t saying if he’ll do anything about it. Given United States President Donald Trump’s bellicose anti-trade comments, followed last month by Montana Sen. Jon Tester’s resolution to the U.S. Senate’s finance committee,
Climate change is real: Pallister
Premier says Manitobans are citizens of the world and must do their part
Climate change is real and Manitobans are willing to do their part to mitigate it, says Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister. “I don’t think there are many farmers left out there who don’t really have a pretty good understanding of the dangers of not addressing climate change,” Pallister said in an interview May 11. “So I
Manitoba’s carbon tax better for farmers than Ottawa’s: Pallister
The premier says farmers are price takers and he doesn’t want a plan that will hurt farmers or the provincial economy
Manitoba’s carbon tax will be designed either in Manitoba or Ottawa, and Premier Brian Pallister says his version won’t undermine the provincial economy or the competitiveness of Manitoba farmers. However, details of either plan remain. “(O)ur plan is going to be one that works far better for Manitobans,” Pallister said in an interview May 11.
Early reviews positive for grain transportation bill
Long-awaited amendments to the Canada Transportation Act that Prairie grain farmers and shippers hope will result in better rail service were tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons. At press time Tuesday farm organization and grain company officials were still assessing Bill C-49, which also deals with other transportation issues, including air travel. At first
New transport bill expected this week
Prairie grain shippers are counting on amendments to the Canada Transportation Act to improve rail service
The federal government’s long-awaited proposals for improving railway shipping of western grain were expected this week in proposed amendments to the Canada Transportation Act. “An act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other acts,” was added to the House of Commons notice
Commodity groups exploring merger
For now Manitoba’s canola, winter cereal and oat producer associations have opted to remain on their own
Five Manitoba commodity groups have signed a deal to spend the next year working towards a merger. The Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers Association (MPSG), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Association (MWBGA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)