CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Apr 1, 2015) - The Barley Council of Canada (BCC) is now looking ahead on the future requirements to address rail transportation service solutions after the federal government's announcement to not renew the order that Canada's railway operators move minimum volumes of grain per week.
Minimum shipment requirements for Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., were put in place last year to guarantee a 2013 record crop get to market.
"The BCC recognizes that the initial Order in Council was a bridge mechanism to address the enormous backlog of grain committed for export overseas markets," said BCC executive director Phil de Kemp. "Our council supported this measure, recognizing that this was a temporary measure to help mitigate an extremely serious situation."
The requirements expired over the weekend and the BCC is now focusing on the future rail service and capacity needs of the industry via the current Canada Transportation Act (CTA) review, which commenced late last year.
"Although rail shipments are back up to historical numbers, this does not preclude the fact that poor railway service is still an issue," said de Kemp. "It is our hope that through the CTA review, the concerns and solutions provided by all shipping industry sectors will be given serious consideration by the CTA review panel when moving forward with its recommendations to the minister."
Aside from the importance of ensuring export position grain shipments (east and west), the BCC's members have a significant interest in getting barley and value-added barley products south to its US customers. The BCC will continue to press for legislative changes that will ensure timely and reliable rail service-in all corridors at all times.
"It is our council's position that it is in Canada's national economic security interests to ensure that there is reliable, predictable and accountable rail service delivery and availability for all shippers in order to protect and enhance Canada's economic growth and prosperity."