MANITOU SPRINGS, Sask. – Farmers have lost their lever to ensure the railways pick up and deliver their grain promptly, says the Saskatchewan Women’s Agricultural Network.
One of the resolutions passed at SWAN’s annual meeting on the weekend urged the federal transport and agriculture ministers to “bring accountability into the grain system.”
Member Margaret Cline noted prairie farmers lost their ability to influence railway movement when they lost the Crow rate. Now there seems to be little farmers can do.
Carolyn McDonald suggested fining the railways or making them pay demurrage costs when ships are waiting in harbor for grain. Grain sits while oil, potash and lumber get quicker service, she said.
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“Don’t pay them until it’s delivered.”
The other problem is timing. SWAN executive secretary Noreen Johns said “we should be hauling now when roads are frozen.” She reminded the group of the situation last spring when farmers were being urged to deliver their grain at a time when road bans were on and seeding preparations begun.
That resolution led to another in which SWAN agreed to lobby governments and the railways to discourage rail-line abandonment and to encourage the development and use of short-line railroads.
Roads are in horrendous shape, said Elaine Kacsmar, but there is also a safety issue because of the increasing number of semi-trailers hauling grain down the highways.
“It’ll land on our heads. It’ll be our dollars needed to fix the roads whether provincial, federal or municipal taxes.”
While not all agreed on the value of short lines, Robin Fenell who lives in southwestern Saskatchewan said they have a place.
“We’re hearing in our part of the province there will be no rail lines,” said Fenell. “For us down there, short lines may be an option…. I really think we have to move our grain by rail. This resolution gives an alternative we have to try.”
In another resolution SWAN reiterated its support of the Canadian Wheat Board and suggested the government consider placing other cereals, oil and pulse crops under the board.
In rural life issues, SWAN asked that SaskTel enlarge its districts to allow farm families local phone access to their community centres. Several members complained that with amalgamation of health services, schools and government services, often phone calls for information carry a long distance charge.
Linda Haubrich said she’s secretary for a community group and often makes long distance calls because she is on the edge of four phone districts.
Kacsmar said her husband’s trucking business must make more long distance calls to reach all his usual customers.
Johns complained that her long distance phone bill is as long as a roll of toilet paper some months.
“They’re not picking up the reality of our changing rural communities,” Johns said.
In other issues SWAN will ask that testing equipment be made available to all farmers to check the quality of their drinking water; that a worker program be developed to help rural elderly people repair and maintain their homes; and that in cases of youth crime, the parents and child be made more responsible and provide restitution to the victim.
