CN and CP met with government and ag industry representatives to provide an update
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Canada’s national railways are ready to move farmers’ crops to market this year.
That’s the message Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) railways delivered during a Wednesday roundtable discussion with federal ag Minister Lawrence MacAulay and federal transport Minister Marc Garneau.
“Through strategic investments, on-going collaboration and communication, and significant planning, we have built the foundation for continued success in grain,” Joan Hardy, vice-president of sales and marketing, grain and fertilizer with CP, said in a statement Wednesday.
Both CN and CP faced pressure from the government and industry groups to decrease the grain backlog in Western Canada.
In March, the federal transport and agriculture ministers mandated that each railway publish plans on their respective websites.
Both railways committed to invest in new tracks, employees and grain hopper cars to ensure more grain is moved on time.
“All these things take time but we will have a lot of these resources before entering the coming winter,” Jean-Jacques Ruest, president and CEO of CN, said during the meeting, The Canadian Press reported.
The extra grain transportation infrastructure may arrive at an opportune time for Canadian growers.
A drought in Australia is impacting yields, which could open the door for Canadian grain.
“I think we’ve got to be light on our feet as far as transportation and getting the crop to where it’s needed in the right place and the right time,” Todd Lewis, president of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said during the discussion. “Hopefully we’re headed that way.”
If Mother Nature cooperates, the railway investments should help eliminate any backlogs.
“The only unknown in all of this is what the weather will be like,” Garneau told iPolitics Thursday. “If it’s a mild winter, then everything will roll smoothly. If it’s a very, very cold winter, then everything is more challenging. So that’s the only uncertainty.”