This spring, a decline in railway service for the grain sector has seen performance numbers drop dramatically. That’s resulting in the worst grain backlog in years. Contracts are in jeopardy and demurrage costs are increasing.
This situation is very bad for our grain producers. When a shipment of grain doesn’t arrive to a port on time, it’s the producer that pays the penalty – not the railway.
As a first step to address this crisis and make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future, we have been pressing the government to pass Bill C-49 quickly. This Bill would at least reintroduce interswitching regulations that expired back in August 2017. Unfortunately, Bill C-49 is omnibus legislation. That means the good stuff – interswitching – is bundled together with all kinds of other measures that we opposition MPs can’t support.
We offered to support a split version of the Bill to pass it quickly, but the Liberals declined. Unfortunately, their attitude toward the grain backlog is pretty much par for the course. This government simply never makes farmers and ranchers a priority.
It’s important to remember that when grain farmers don’t get paid, it affects towns across our region. It means they don’t have money they might have spent at local stores, restaurants, and events. It’s a bad situation all around, and we are working hard in Ottawa to get it addressed.
On another subject close to home – have you ever been to the Rosebud Theatre? As part of a study the Heritage committee is undertaking, we are looking at rural cultural hubs. The Rosebud theatre is a fantastic example of a successful rural cultural hub, right in the heart of the prairie!
We heard in committee that one of the key components of a successful rural hub is attracting audiences from urban areas. As you know, it’s a lot easier to build up a large client base in a city with a big population than in a small town. So if you enjoy the Rosebud Theatre, be sure to spread the word! Let’s support local arts and culture; without it we’d have to drive to Calgary to enjoy a good show!
I can be reached in Ottawa at 613-992-0761 or martin.shields@parl.gc.ca. My Brooks office can be reached at 403-793-6775 or martin.shields.c1@parl.gc.ca, and my Strathmore office at 403-361-2980 or martin.shields.c1B@parl.gc.ca. Please don’t hesitate to contact me about any federal issue.
