WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grain shippers across Western Canada today welcome the passage of Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act.
“This day has been a long time coming for grain shippers and the farmers we serve,” said Executive Director of the WGEA, Wade Sobkowich. “Grain shippers extend our thanks to Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay for their leadership in bringing the Bill through the parliamentary process with the provisions that are of critical importance to the grain sector.”
“Grain shippers and farmers have been hit particularly hard this year, but chronic poor rail service has plagued our sector for decades,” continued Sobkowich. “We are hopeful today’s bill passage will mean that we can start using the new tools before the next shipping season.”
The amendments to the Canada Transportation Act contained in Bill C-49 mean that grain shippers can finally negotiate fair service level agreements with the railways and hold them accountable when service commitments are not met. Among other important measures, the Bill also means better performance reporting, and that shippers can access competing rail lines through the long-haul interswitching mechanism.
“The WGEA would like to thank the members of the House and Senate for their hard work and careful study of this Bill,” concluded Sobkowich. “We now look forward to working with Transport Canada and Canada Transportation Agency officials to ensure the Bill is implemented quickly and achieves its intended goal of bring more competition and accountability to the rail transportation system.”
The WGEA is an association of grain businesses operating in Canada which collectively handle in excess of 90% of western Canada’s bulk grain exports. Its members account for approximately one fifth of bulk railway revenue in Canada and pay annual total freight of one and a half billion dollars. For more information on the WGEA’s perspective on the rail environment visit: www.wgea.ca
Contact: Wade Sobkowich, Executive Director, WGEA (204) 942-6835 or wgea@mts.net