Sask. asks ag committee for rail law amendments

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Published: April 4, 2014

Saskatchewan is requesting changes to Bill C-30, the proposed federal legislation designed to improve grain movement.

Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart had criticized the bill for not going far enough. Today, he submitted the province’s requests to the federal standing committee on agriculture.

Saskatchewan has asked for service level agreements between shippers and railways that include reciprocal penalties for damages and an expedited arbitration process, service for all customers and all shippers in all corridors, railway delivery of a minimum 13,000 grain cars per week, penalties of up to $250,000 per day if railways fail to meet the targets and removal of the 2016 sunset clause in favour of permanent legislation.

Stewart said the system must have the necessary capacity to accommodate future growth.

“All customers, big and small, in all corridors must have assurance of adequate service,” he said.

“Canada has made significant efforts to expand trade agreements and reduce barriers to market access around the world. These opportunities should not be squandered by an inability to get our production to export position.”

About the author

Karen Briere

Karen Briere

Karen Briere grew up in Canora, Sask. where her family had a grain and cattle operation. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Regina and has spent more than 30 years covering agriculture from the Western Producer’s Regina bureau.

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