Reading Time: 4 minutes Prairie crop growers hoping that changes in federal rail freight rules will continue past their expiration date are about to get their wish. Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced they would bring forward a resolution in Parliament to extend provisions of the previous government’s Bill C-30, the Fair Rail […] Read more
Ottawa moves to extend expanded rail interswitching
Farm groups rail against revenue cap proposal
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– A key proposal in the recently released Canada Transportation Act review on Canada’s transport systems is getting thumbs down from several Prairie farm groups. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) disagrees with the report’s recommendation for a seven-year phase-out of the maximum revenue entitlement (MRE), an annual upper limit on the […] Read more
Transport review urges scrapping railway grain revenue cap
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — Ottawa should phase out over seven years its cap on the amount of revenue railways can earn transporting grain, a study for the Canadian government recommended Thursday, a move long urged by railways and opposed by farmers and grain handlers. A review of Canadian transportation laws, aimed at modernizing the system, […] Read more
CN to challenge latest grain revenue penalty
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ordered to hand over more than $7 million in Prairie grain handling revenue and related fines for the 2014-15 crop year, Canadian National Railway now plans to challenge the bill in court. Montreal-based CN on Monday filed in the Federal Court of Appeal, seeking leave to appeal the Canadian Transportation Agency’s (CTA) Dec. 29 finding […] Read more
CN’s 2015 grain handle down, grain revenue up
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian National Railway’s (CN) fourth-quarter and full-year ledgers show lower traffic, but increased revenue, from its grain and fertilizer business in 2015, en route to record full-year earnings. Montreal-based CN on Tuesday reported overall net income of $3.538 billion on $12.611 billion in total revenues for 2015, up from $3.167 billion on $12.134 billion for […] Read more
CN, CP both over revenue limits for 2014-15 grain haul
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s big two railways will both be required to hand over seven figures in Prairie grain revenue from the 2014-15 crop year after taking in more than their federally-allowed maximums. The Canadian Transportation Agency on Tuesday ruled Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CN, CP) exceeded their grain revenue entitlements for the crop year […] Read more
Railway funds to deliver safety, leadership programs
Reading Time: 2 minutes 4-H Canada is set to launch a new youth leadership program, along with a farm safety fund, thanks to a $600,000 contribution from Canadian National Railway (CN). Executives at 4-H and CN unveiled the 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (LEAD) at Canadian Western Agribition on Wednesday morning. Each year LEAD will award four […] Read more
Slimmer harvest yields faster deliveries from railways
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– A year ago, Western Canada’s shortline railways were struggling to meet commitments, but this year’s smaller grain production has reduced the stress on rail transporters. “There’s no shortage of cars, and there’s no problems in shipping,” said Sheldon Affleck, president of Regina-based shortline Big Sky Rail. A year ago, rail companies struggled […] Read more
Cereals North America: Communication key to improved grain transportation
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | CNS Canada –– Canada’s grain transportation system is running relatively smoothly for the time being, but there is still plenty of room for improvement — and better communication between participants is seen as a way to alleviate future bottlenecks. The 2013-14 crop year, with its logistical challenges and, eventually, federal government intervention, are […] Read more
More grain revenue on less grain in CN’s Q3 ledger
Reading Time: 2 minutes Lower grain traffic compared to last year’s record crop year hasn’t translated to lower third-quarter grain revenue for Canadian National Railway (CN). Montreal-based CN on Tuesday booked overall net income of $1.007 billion on $3.222 billion in gross revenue for its third quarter (Q3) ending Sept. 30, up from $853 million on $3.118 billion in […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
