OTTAWA – The prairie grain industry gets one chance next next week to convince the government it should veer a little to the left in its headlong rush to deregulate the railways.
A coalition of grain companies meets new federal transport minister David Anderson March 21 to argue the Canada Transportation Act gives too much power to railways in their dealings with commodity shippers.
Supported by other bulk commodity shippers, the grain executives will argue the proposed legislation biases the system in favor of the railways if shippers go before the Canadian Transportation Agency to protest rail service or rates.
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“We hope to convince him to loosen up a bit, to consider a change,” said Gordon Pugh from Prairie Pool Inc.’s Ottawa office.
Anderson, from British Columbia, inherited the legislation from his predecessor as transport minister, Doug Young, and from the previous Parliament.
So far, commodity lobbyists say they have been rebuffed by Transport Canada officials when they ask for changes.
The meeting with Anderson to plead their case personally was not easy to arrange.
Last week, the government re-introduced bill C-101.
Debate is not expected to begin for a few weeks.
