(Dave Bedard photo)

Farmers seek ‘urgent’ action from Senate on rail service

Groups representing Canadian grain growers touched down in Ottawa Thursday to urge quick passage of legislation to avoid a sequel to the grain handling logjam of 2013-14. Representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Grain Growers of Canada, Keystone Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Alberta Federation of Agriculture and B.C. Agriculture Council went



(CN.ca)

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

(CN.ca)

Ottawa to keep revenue cap on grain shipments by rail

Ottawa | Reuters — The Canadian government introduced draft legislation on grain transportation on Tuesday that would keep in place a revenue cap on western grain that railways haul for export. The grain revenue cap, or “maximum revenue entitlement” (MRE), has been in place since 2000 and is intended to balance the market power of



Transport Minister Marc Garneau will introduce promised amendments to the Canada Transportation Act this spring, a spokesman says.

New transportation legislation still set for spring introduction

While grain farmers and shippers look forward to legislation they want provisions under C-30 set to expire Aug. 1 extended until the amendments take force

Canada Transportation Act amendments will be introduced this spring before the House of Commons rises — but the grain industry is concerned key temporary provision may expire before legislation is passed. The confirmation came after a query to Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s office. “Minister Garneau is committed to introducing legislation this spring,” Marc Roy, Garneau’s

Railway in fog

False premises don’t help rail discussion

The real solution will involve commercial partnerships, not central planning by government

Gord Gilmour’s recent editorial (‘Playing with trains,’ February 16, 2017) makes some valid points related to Canada’s grain supply chain. We agree that canola crush has been good for farmers, and the supply chain has been resilient this winter. Unfortunately, Gilmour also perpetuates unhelpful fallacies, and he advocates policies that would hinder the performance of


Photo: File/Allan Dawson

Grain elevators applaud the Parliamentary Committee’s rail recommendations

The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) has added its voice to grain industry organizations praising a report from the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on rail transportation affecting grain shippers. Recommendations in the report broadly encompass the adjustments required to the Canada Transportation Act to ensure the Canadian economy prospers in the long

Grain shippers of all types are heralding promised changes to the transportation regulatory environment announced Nov. 3 by Transport Minister Marc Garneau.

Grain sector hails transport reform

But some farm groups worry about the future of the maximum revenue entitlement

Farm groups, grain shippers, crop processors and supply chain organizations are all praising Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s plan to make Canada’s grain transportation system more competitive. But some farm groups are uneasy about the future of the maximum revenue entitlement (MRE). Speaking to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal Nov. 3 Garneau announced legislation