The Saskatchewan government has formally released want it wants from the federal government as it drafts legislation on grain transportation.
Premier Brad Wall and others have been saying for weeks that mandatory service level agreements, more grain cars and stronger penalties are needed.
In a March 17 news release, the government asked that the daily penalties for non-performance by the railways be increased to $250,000 from the current $100,000. Saskatchewan also wants fines to directly benefit producers.
Other requests include:
• Mechanisms and penalties to make sure grain companies fulfill contractual obligations to producers
• Improving rail service by increasing inter-switching distances and therefore access to a competing railway
• Ensuring service to domestic mills and U.S. customers
• Dispute resolution
• Formal mechanisms for monitoring the entire system and analyzing its performance
