Union workers and a group of farmers say they are well on the way to meeting CN Rail’s stipulations for leasing 1,600 kilometres of branch lines.
In January, CN Rail and one of its unions signed a memorandum of understanding that would see the railway lease the mainly Saskatchewan networks of Mantario-Conquest, Robinhood-Turtleford, Tisdale-Turnberry and Cudworth to the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees.
The union and a group of farmers known as the Prairie Alliance for the Future would use the lines to operate a regional grain collection and transportation network.
Read Also
Ag in Motion speaker highlights need for biosecurity on cattle operations
Ag in Motion highlights need for biosecurity on cattle farms. Government of Saskatchewan provides checklist on what you can do to make your cattle operation more biosecure.
“We’re going to meet those deadlines on that memorandum of understanding,” said Gary Housch, vice-president of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees. “I’m very optimistic that we’ll be able to do what we need to do.”
The first deadline imposed by CN Rail is March 15. Participants have until then to prove to the railway that farmers, communities and unionized workers are committed to the idea.
Speaking last week during a break at a hastily organized meeting about the project, Housch said the first requirement has already been met.
“I don’t see a problem based on the turnout today showing that we have support by March 15. CN saw that today,” said the union official, referring to the 90 farmers and municipal officials gathered at a Saskatoon hotel.
The next step is the crucial one. CN wants a specific proposal outlining a future commercial agreement between the parties by May 1. That document will include the following:
- The specific lines to be leased and the rates and haulage agreements on those lines.
- Performance criteria including safety, operating requirements and volume commitments.
- Interchange agreements for the leased lines.
- Commercial arrangements for traffic generated by the co-op that does not originate on its regional network.
- A clear definition of the role of the parties involved in the agreement.
