OTTAWA – The Conservative government has deflected calls for a rail freight costing review by arguing the current rail revenue cap is a better balance.
In the House of Commons Nov. 25, New Democrat agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko noted that a broad array of agriculture and forestry industry groups are complaining about rail freight rates that produce $200 million in excess rail revenues every year.
Northern Alberta MP Brian Jean, parliamentary secretary to the transportation minister, offered no support for a rail freight costing review.
He said governments have shifted from government subsidies to a system of freight rates that allow financing of competitive railways.
“The current revenue cap regime creates incentives and it continues to make Canada and the Canadian
economy prosperous,” said Jean. “We are going to stand up for Canadians and Canadian farmers.”
