REGINA (Staff) – Ontario wheat, corn and soybean producers will have access to hopper cars if the western Canadian-based Farmer Rail Car Coalition gains ownership of the federal fleet.
Sinclair Harrison, chair of the coalition, said last week a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the three Ontario producer groups to assure them of access to cars. Discussions had been ongoing since early May after some Ontario farm groups appeared before a parliamentary committee studying the government’s plans to sell its 13,000 grain hopper cars. The Ontario farmers were concerned they would be left out in the cold if whoever bought the cars did not allow them access.
Harrison said details of the agreement have not been worked out, but it was important for the coalition to be able to tell the federal government it was prepared to co-operate, he said.
The Ontario groups will need 500 hopper cars at their peak period, Harrison said.
