CLARIFICATION: This story originally stated that the report would be tabled by Feb. 25. Later information said the report would be tabled by April 12, but on Feb. 24 Transport Canada issue an advisory that the report would indeed be tabled Feb. 25.
The much anticipated review of the Canada Transportation Act will be tabled in Parliament soon.
A spokesperson for Transport Canada said last week that transportation minister Marc Garneau will table the findings of the review within 30 sitting days of the Jan. 25 resumption of Parliament.
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Garneau received the report Dec. 21, and his mandate letter from prime minister Justin Trudeau specifically mentions it as a top priority.
“Lead, with the support of the minister of agriculture and agri-food and in the context of responding to the review of the Canada Transportation Act, a full review of the Canadian grain transportation system,” the letter said.
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities president Ray Orb said there is a rumour that another review is underway.
“We’ve heard the government is doing a study of their own, kind of like a mini study,” he said.
“Maybe they’re just checking before they release it.”
Other sources could not confirm another review, and the spokesperson said only that “grain transportation will be addressed as part of the government’s follow-up to the CTA review report.”
Former MP David Emerson headed the statutory review panel established in June 2014 after the grain backlog of the previous winter.
The panel, which included AGT Food and Ingredients president Murad Al-Katib, examined all aspects of the transportation system, not just grain.
The last statutory review was completed in 2001.
