The federal government has encountered a "speed bump" in the process of passing its legislation aimed at improving grain transportation by rail in Western Canada.
This morning the House of Commons speaker struck down an amendment made to the "Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act" after Independent MP Brent Rathgeber argued it was out of order.
The amendment approved by the House of Commons agriculture committee would have required the railways to reimburse shippers for expenses incurred due to poor service.
"It is unfortunate that Brent Rathgeber has turned a deaf ear to farmers and all shippers by attempting to deprive them of meaningful service level agreements," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in a statement. "These Parliamentary games are simply an unfortunate speed bump and will not deter this government from amending C-30 to include service level agreements with penalties."
Saskatchewan Liberal MP Ralph Goodale accused the Conservatives of "bungling" the grain transportation bill.
"(The amendment) was badly designed and obviously a political after-thought introduced in desperation at the last minute in a manner that was against the rules. So the Speaker had to throw it out," said Goodale. "And without that amendment, Bill C-30 remains toothless and ineffectual."
A motion was subsequently passed by the House to send the the bill back to the agriculture committee for consideration on Monday. The text of the motion allows the committee to amend the bill to include service level agreements with penalties.
This morning the House of Commons speaker struck down an amendment made to the "Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act" after Independent MP Brent Rathgeber argued it was out of order.
The amendment approved by the House of Commons agriculture committee would have required the railways to reimburse shippers for expenses incurred due to poor service.
"It is unfortunate that Brent Rathgeber has turned a deaf ear to farmers and all shippers by attempting to deprive them of meaningful service level agreements," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in a statement. "These Parliamentary games are simply an unfortunate speed bump and will not deter this government from amending C-30 to include service level agreements with penalties."
Saskatchewan Liberal MP Ralph Goodale accused the Conservatives of "bungling" the grain transportation bill.
"(The amendment) was badly designed and obviously a political after-thought introduced in desperation at the last minute in a manner that was against the rules. So the Speaker had to throw it out," said Goodale. "And without that amendment, Bill C-30 remains toothless and ineffectual."
A motion was subsequently passed by the House to send the the bill back to the agriculture committee for consideration on Monday. The text of the motion allows the committee to amend the bill to include service level agreements with penalties.