A well-known name in prairie grain transportation is the new president of the Hudson Bay Route Association.
Sinclair Harrison made his name as head of the Prairie Rail Car Coalition during its attempt to buy grain cars from the federal government.
He takes over from Arnold Grambo, who has served on the association board for 17 years.
Harrison said the new 16-member board will hold a telephone conference call April 29 to set policy priorities for the coming year.
The association promotes the shipment of grain and other products through Manitoba’s Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay.
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Most of its members are in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but Harrison said a membership co-ordinator works in all three prairie provinces.
He said every tonne of grain that moves through Churchill represents one less tonne squeezed through already crowded ports at Vancouver and Thunder Bay.
As well, potash production is expected to double in the near future, which Harrison said will put extra pressure on the railway system.
The association’s website identifies a number of issues that need to be addressed to keep the port’s momentum going:
• Churchill grain is excluded from the Canadian Transportation
Agency’s revenue cap calculation;
• the multi-car rebate enshrined in grain legislation does not apply to Churchill;
• Tisdale East subdivision from Tisdale, Sask., to Hudson Bay, Sask., is not in operation, meaning grain from Prince Albert and east must travel an extra 320 kilometres through Canora, Sask., to reach Churchill.
• mainline railways refuse to interchange rail cars for Churchillbound traffic at the most direct route location, forcing grain to travel in a circuitous route;
• Canadian National Railway is threatening to delist 53 producer car loading sites in Western Canada;
• ongoing need to upgrade the Hudson Bay Railway line and the port;
• need to extend the Churchill shipping season, which means addressing marine insurance, coast guard/ice-breaker service and tug service problems;
• increase cost-competitive fertilizer imports through Churchill;
• complete dust-free, primary road corridor through Manitoba and Saskatchewan to The Pas;
• build a producer car loading facility at The Pas;
• conduct independent study to help verify Churchill route savings.
