Webpaper 32

Page 1

Vol. 105 No. 32

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Box 40, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0

email: tip@sasktel.net

20 pages

Bri n and ging n are ews a fo t r 10 o Bigg 5y ear ar s! Phone: 306-948-3344

www.biggarindependent.ca ndependent.ca

Important measures for the grain handling and transportation system now in force L

ast year farmers harvested their dream crop -- a bumper crop that sat in the bins because it couldn’t get to market. Meanwhile train after train was filled with oil cars bypassing the Prairie elevators. Hopefully Bill C-30 will put an end to that. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Transport Minister Lisa Raitt announced a series of important regulation and an Order in Council related to the implementation of the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act better known at Bill C-30. This bill combined the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Grain Act and received Royal Assent on May 29. It is designed to ensure that Canada’s rail transportation network moves grain to markets as quickly and efficiently as possible. The measures set out the minimum grain volumes that Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway are each required to move from August 3, 2014 to November 29, 2014. Regulations require CN and CP to provide additional data on grain movement to better monitor the overall performance of the railbased supply chain. The regulations clarify the operational terms in a service level agreement that can be arbitrated by the Canadian Transportation Agency to support commercial negotiations between shippers and railways. The newly defined rail service obligations will increase predictability for all shippers. It includes an amendment to the Railway Interswitching Regula-

tions extending the limit for rail interswitching from 30 kilometres to 160 kilometers in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba for all commodities to increase competition among railway companies and give shippers access to alternative rail servies. The regulations will provide farmers with better protection through more accountability for grain companies in contracts. “After taking immediate action to get grain and other commodities moving, our Government has been building a solid foundation for managing future challenges. Today’s regulations are the latest step in our ongoing efforts to create a rail supply chain that farmers and all shippers can depend on as they grow the Canadian economy,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “The coming into force of these important regulations puts the measures in place to avoid a repeat of last year’s problems. Our Government has made tough decisions for the benefit of our producers, and to maintain Canada’s good reputation as a global supplier,” stated Transport Minister Lisa Raitt. Cereals Canada commends the government for taking actions to help ensure that the grain transportation failures of last fall and winter do no recur. The Government of Canada has recognized the seriousness of transportation failures,” noted Cam Dahl, President of Cereals Canada. “Cereals Canada thanks the Hon. Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for

Oh, that feels good . . . There’s nothing better on a hot day than cool water. Biggar Fire Department set up a slip n slide on the slopes of Diamond Lodge last weekend and it wasn’t long before a crowd gathered. The temps were hot and many took advantage of the chance to cool off and have some fun in the process. (Submitted photo by Errol Horst)

his efforts to clear the logistics logjam and move towards longterm solutions that will prevent the transportation problems from happening again.” “Restricted grain movement during the last fall and winter placed a significant economic strain on Western Canadian farmers and has put at risk Canada’s international reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality Bikes of all kinds . . . Motorcycle enthusiasts gathered in Biggar the weekend of grains, oilseeds August 1-4 for a rally. It probably could be said there were a large variety of bikes and special crops,” on display and many people stopped by for a visit and look see. Those who came continued Dahl. for the rally spent some time in town so it was a busy weekend. (Submitted photo by The amended regulations allow Shannon Lanigan)

the government to collect more detailed information from CN and CP on a more frequent basis. The new data to be collected will include: • Railway car cycle data covering all grain movements. • Weekly grain traffic by tonnage, carloads, railway car type and corridor travelled. • Railway car fleet information for all railway cars used for grain transportation, including the number of cars that are empty, loaded, in storage, enroute or in bad order. • Railway car order fulfilment information, including dates orders were placed, name of shipper, origin and destination of the grain, the total number of railway cars ordered and cancelled by the shipper, and number of railway cars the rail carriers have committed, placed and/or cancelled. This information will allow the

Grain Monitor to provide more timely updates on the state of Canadian grain transportation. Transport Canada will use the additional information collected to ensure a continuous and effective monitoring of the grain handling and transportation system. With the collection of information on all grain movements and the improvement in the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of the information, Transport Canada will have the opportunity to monitor, plan and react sooner in the event of a spike in demand for all grain movements and to better foresee capacity shortages in the sector. The information will also be shared with the Canadian Transportation Agency to assist the agency in developing its advice for the Ministers of Transport and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in regards to the determination of minimum grain volumes.


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