Opposition critics accused the federal Liberals last week of sending mixed messages about the pace of prairie rail-line abandonment.
Canadian Wheat Board minister Ralph Goodale is the tough cop, telling the railways they have an obligation to leave the rail system in place while it is being reviewed by Willard Estey.
Transport minister David Collenette is the nice cop, keeping public criticism to a minimum and promising he’ll keep talking to the railways.
“It’s like these guys don’t talk to each other at cabinet,” said Reform party transportation critic Lee Morrison. “We certainly are getting messages with different tones.”
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In Saskatchewan, Goodale urged grain industry players “not to cut the Estey process off at the pass” by continuing abandonments and consolidation before he reports at the end of the year.
Goodale would not promise a legislated moratorium but asked the railways to do the right thing.
In Parliament last week, Collenette issued what his critics saw as a softer message.
He was asked by New Democrat Dick Proctor if he had told the railways to stop the abandonments.
Collenette said he has talked to the railways.
“What we have done in various discussions is remind them of the obligations, remind them of adhering to the spirit of the National Transportation Act amendments of a couple of years ago, which gave them the freedom to operate in a business-like fashion and also to keep in mind the public interest,” said the minister.
“If we find that is not being done, then certainly I will communicate further with the railways and perhaps take further action.”
Proctor said prairie farmers can take little comfort from that response.
“I thought that Goodale had a tougher message for the railways, took a tougher line,” said the Saskatchewan New Democrat. “I felt today was less than a strong assurance that the government will step in and do anything.”
