Canada’s grain exporters are taking umbrage with complaints from south of the border that they are receiving trade-distorting transportation subsidies. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) says Canada’s regulated rail system lowers export costs by capping the amount of revenue the two main railways can earn hauling grain in Western Canada. “Rail rates limited by statute, rather […] Read more
Tag Archives grain transportation
Farmers, provinces urge action in CN strike
Provincial governments and farmers urged Ottawa earlier this week to immediately address the Canadian National Railway strike, saying the labour dispute could have far-reaching implications for the agriculture industry and the Canadian economy. All of CN’s Canadian bulk freight traffic has essentially come to a halt since 3,200 of the company’s conductors, train workers and […] Read more
CN, union reach deal to end strike
Teamsters Canada and Canadian National Railway have reached a tentative deal to end a lengthy strike that had disrupted supply chains across the country. CN announced today the 3,200 conductors and yard crews working on its mainline yards in Canada will return to work today at 2 p.m. local times across the country after reaching […] Read more
Railways break grain movement records
Canada’s two national railways are reporting strong grain movement this year, claiming October was a record-breaking month. In news releases published earlier this month, Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway said they have been highly successful in delivering producers’ grain to market. CN said it moved 2.8 million tonnes of grain and processed grain […] Read more
Strike begins at CN, negotiations continue
About 3,200 conductors, train workers and yard workers at Canadian National Railway went on strike earlier today in a move that could have far-reaching implications for the Canadian agriculture industry and for the Canadian economy as a whole. “Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a deal with CN,” said officials with the Teamsters Canada Rail […] Read more
CN strike looms
A strike affecting Canada’s largest railway company could begin tomorrow. About 3,000 unionized workers at Canadian National Railway including train conductors and yard workers served notice Nov. 16 of their intent to strike beginning Nov. 19. The workers, represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) have been working without a contract since July. Representatives […] Read more
Freight rates take higher-than-normal jump
Reported increases of 12 percent indicate that railways may be managing the revenue cap more aggressively
Western Canadian grain farmers will pay more money to move this year’s crop to export position. According to multiple sources, grain freight rates on some regulated railway routes have already risen by more than 12 percent since Sept. 1. “We’ve seen our freight rates on Canadian Pacific (Railway) go up by nearly 13 percent over […] Read more
Harvest delays slow grain movement
Slow harvest progress in Western Canada is delaying the movement of grain to prairie elevators and export terminals on the West Coast and at Thunder Bay. John Brooks, executive vice-president with Canadian Pacific Railway, told investors in Montreal that the western Canadian harvest is as much as 30 percent behind normal this year. Poor harvest […] Read more
Rail, infrastructure gains give reason for optimism
Canada’s two major rail companies have taken heat over the last few years for failure to provide consistent movement of agricultural products. However, now it looks like genuine change is underway. The turnaround is remarkable. After a difficult winter in 2013-14, which the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission says cost around $6.5 billion, and more difficulties […] Read more
CP expects to ship record amount of grain this year
The railway moved 22.5 million tonnes of grain and grain products between Aug. 1, 2018, and May 31, 2019, which is 500,000 tonnes more than it’s ever done at this point in the year
Canadian Pacific Railway expects to set a new record in 2018-19 for volumes of Canadian grain moved in a single crop year. Joan Hardy, CP’s vice-president of sales and marketing, grain and fertilizers, said CP is on pace to move more grain in the current crop year than ever before. Between Aug. 1, 2018, and […] Read more
