Monday Time to Blitz the Phones!

[rockpile]

Tweety, this has been an ongoing issue for decades and is not just a problem for grain but for all industries and businesses that rely on rail to move product in or out. Rail in a country as big and diverse as Canada is an essential service. So given that the railways are privatized, there are three things that should balance out the privilege they have been granted. 1. Given that our railroad industry offers very little competition to captive shippers, then a very fair, transparent and effective set of mechanisms need to be set in place where shippers can seek compensation when performance of service does not adequately occur when external factors like weather are not involved. 2. A set of guiding principles and performance expectations to balance the disproportional power the railroads have amassed over the decades that will become their 'mission statements'. 3. A national transportation policy that reflects the unique nature of both the size and geographical challenges Canadians deal with and the very fact that the 'national dream' was financed and undertaken by a 'ribbon of steel'. And to this day, the railroads, like it or not, are an essential service to sustain our economy.
And keep in mind, most of the plant these guys make their profits off of were either afforded by or paid for by Canadians and the Canadian Government.

[farmaholic]

If they can't be "trusted" to provide adequate service nationalize them. If you lived in northern Saskatchewan, would you have any cell service, or general utilities if it weren't for crown providers? And if there weren't crown services and you were lucky enough to have an alternative provider, you likely couldn't afford them.

The line has been crossed. As we all said before, they are stymying growth. Wait for the extra traffic from potash. A smaller crop will only mask the problems and fix nothing. Maybe all the "shippers"(RR's customers) need to join forces and present a united front so no single industry gets singled out
and punished.

Farming 101, you're a numbers/chart person. Plot the increase in production dating back to half and half farming to full fledged continuous cropping. Imagine the increase in production from both more acres and more production from each acre.

All the extra increased traffic from other industries. What has been done to accommodate it?

They can't be trusted to do what's best for Canada.

Maybe then the MULTI BILLILNAIRES can build a railway to compete with the one they once owned that got nationalized. B s a ds....

[tweety]

Rockpile, wasn't that pretty much all tried with the last CTA review? While the independent review panel agreed with all the proposals of CRS, it has been beyond more then impossible to get any into legislation or action battling against the 150 CN/CP lawyers living on the hill.

What can be done more specifically and more effectively today then that?

Saskfarmer3, you never seem to disappoint.

[rockpile]

Yup, I'm regurgitating what we put forward at the last review. After my presentation, Feeny from CN came over to me at break time and called me a communist and then threatened me by saying "that hell, they could confiscate my farm if they wanted to" to which I replied "Well, I guess that makes you the Communist, Comrade Stalin". He turned red and I thought his blood vessels on his forehead were going to explode! But I stand by what I stated, and no, there are no quick fixes. We need systemic change and a national transportation policy.

[tweety]

Absolutely, but what do we as farmers do?

[stubblejumper]

We got what we asked for. Live with it.

[SASKFARMER3]

Tweety look around talk to farmers and realize the same problem is here that was last winter.
Industry wants us to grow 100 bus wheat and buy seed to produce that size crop. Canola growers wants 52 bus across the board. Etc etc. but guess what if the same ones selling the shit show can't get their act together what's it all worth.
Phone and make their days very very busy. Email them fax them we have elected officials that aren't doing their job.

[PrairieDude]

Sask were you bullied as a child. Jesus h look after your own business and quit whining already. Maybe when you book your next 2 month vacation, ensure you have cell service so you can manage your farm.

[tweety]

Are the Service Level Agreements working? Has there been any arbitration and has it been fair? Has the RR's listened to that arbitration?

That was started as fundamental simple lobbying with CRS what back in 04? Is it working today and clear in the CTA?

Railroads are above the law, that has been demonstrated over and over. What's the next move?

Shoot, NL loses to team Canada.

[SASKFARMER3]

Prairie is your service awesome?