The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) urged Parliament to pass without undue delay ‘An Act to provide for the continuation and resumption of rail service operations.’
“Our industry depends heavily on rail transport for both exports and domestic processing,” said CCC president Patti Miller. “This work stoppage is holding up exports of canola and every day of delay in impacts on our producers and industry. With over 85 percent of canola exported, rail is essential to transporting canola seed, oil, and meal from handling and processing facilities across the prairies to ports or markets in the United States.”
Miller said the CCC supports Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in his efforts to bring the strike to an end.
In March 2012 alone, more than $820 million of canola seed, oil, and meal exports depended on rail.
Canadian‐grown canola contributes $15.4 billion annually to Canada’s economy.Canola provides 228,000 Canadian jobs and is responsible for $8.2 billion in employee wages annually.
The CCC represents the entire canola value chain including processors, exporters, life science companies, as well as Canada’s 43,000 canola growers.
