The Alberta Wheat Commission says, Canadian farmers are being put at risk waiting for Bill C-49 to pass, also known as the Transportation Modernization Act.

Bill C-49 contains provisions which will ensure long term solutions to grain transportation problems which have been troubling farmers for decades, but there is a delay in Senate approval.

Chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission, Kevin Auch, says the end of January is the soonest the Bill could be passed.

"We're in the unfortunate circumstance where we're not protected by the provisions which were under Bill C-30, as that expired last August. We aren't yet under the protection of Bill C-49, so shippers don't have the ability to have options with their shipping of grain."

The measures included in Bill C-30 were shipper access to extended interswitching of up to 160 kms and minimum shipping volume requirements.

The Alberta Wheat Commission says, car order fulfillment by CN Rail has averaged only 50 to 60 per cent.

"Weather is definitely not a factor, and we're still running at these poor levels, so it's a little bit concerning because we know that winter is coming. And when it does, we're going to be really behind on our shipping then."

Auch says, with these delays, Canada is at risk of losing credibility with global customers, similar to the 2013 to 2014 crop year.

"I just came back from a trade mission (to South America), and one of the things that we were telling them was we've got all this quality wheat for them this year, but it doesn't do us any good if we can't get it to them."

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is also calling the Senate to pass the Bill.

"International customers are always looking to Canada for our top-quality grains and oilseed products, but over the years our reputation as a reliable supplier has been put into question, in large part due to our rail logistics system," says Jeff Nielsen, GGC President. "We are anxious to have the C-49 measures in place as they will not only give us some competitive options but will allow shippers to hold the railways accountable when they fail to meet their contractual service obligations."

Once Bill C-49 is passed, grain companies will have access to new long-haul interswithcing measures. They will also have the ability to negotiated true reciprocal penalties within service level agreements.


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