Member of Parliament for Provencher, Ted Falk, applauds the Harper Government for taking measures to move more grain through the transportation system and maintain Canada’s reputation as a supplier to world markets.
Member of Parliament for Provencher, Ted Falk and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
The measures were announced by Transport Minister Lisa Raitt and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced in Winnipeg.
Minister Raitt announced an Order in Council (OIC) to take immediate effect, setting out minimum volumes of grain that Canadian National Railway Company and Canadian Pacific Railway Company are each required to move. The Order, under section 47(1) of the Canada Transportation Act, also requires the railways to report to the Minister of Transport on weekly shipments.
The railways will be required to increase the volumes carried each week, over a period of four weeks, to a combined target of 1,000,000 metric tonnes per week – more than doubling the volume currently being moved.
The Order creates direct legal obligations on railways and will result in penalties for non-compliance of up to $100,000 per day.
“I am pleased to see that our Government is taking action to help increase the volume of grain transported,” commented MP Falk. “Agriculture plays a very significant role in the communities of Southeast Manitoba. I support any measure that will help the hard working producers and farmers who create jobs and strengthen our economy.”
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that the Government will introduce legislation when Parliament returns to establish measures to ensure Canada maintains a world-class logistics system that gets agricultural products to market more efficiently.
“The current grain logistics system is not meeting demand and today our Government is taking concrete action to ensure the livelihoods of farmers and our overall economy. By making the Order in Council and working to introduce legislation, our Government continues to act in the best interests of our farmers while ensuring Canada maintains our global reputation as a reliable grain shipper.”
The Government continues to call on all parties in the grain supply chain to play constructive roles to ensure the timely movement of grain, and to continue working together on medium and long-term solutions.
