Today Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart will discuss the importance of moving this year’s crop to market and the actions required to ensure a reliable transportation network is in place going forward.
Stewart will meet with federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau in Saskatoon today prior to a meeting between the federal minister and industry stakeholders.
“Farmers and ranchers are an important voice in the ongoing review of the Canada Transportation Act, and I appreciate that Minister Garneau will hear directly from producers,” Stewart said. “Access to rail, adequate levels of service and a fair price for freight is essential to the continued success of Saskatchewan producers and our agriculture industry.”
While wet weather has complicated this fall’s harvest, a large crop is still anticipated for this growing season. The Government of Saskatchewan is seeking assurances that producers and shippers have a rail system that meets their needs. The government is also requesting long-term changes to the transportation system to accommodate future growth.
The province’s recommendations on rail transport include an extension of inter-switching distances to allow for more competition for grain shippers in western Canada, a continuation of the Maximum Revenue Entitlement, and increased accountability by way of reciprocal monetary penalties that shippers could impose on rail carriers for violating service level agreements.
“Our agriculture industry is a major economic driver that relies on an efficient, reliable and responsive rail sector,” Stewart said. “We look forward to continuing to work alongside producers, customers, railway companies and federal and provincial governments to make sure the country’s transportation network is up to the task.”
Source : Government of Saskatchewan