Ritz was right, so far

[Hopalong]

Nearly two months ago, Gerry Ritz predicted that the Trudeau government would sit on recommendations in CTA review headed by David Emerson.
As regards grain shipping, do not hear much resistance to changes to revenue cap as much as many say it must not be ended completely
Even Richard Gray says changes are necessary.
Time for growers and graincos to discuss what changes, if any, are acceptable.

[nicolaas]

not sure if level of service warrants an increase. Why reward mediocracy?

[Hopalong]

Some support idea that present max revenue entitlement is not an incentive for better service.
Railways get same revenue as long as they move the crop eventually. Better for them to space it out and avoid higher costs.
Big sticking point is shippers paying extra for service at times of peak demand.
Regulation supporters say just have govts order railways to move grain but other shippers say what about us.
Own opinion is support for review recommendations.

[bucket]

A full costing review wasn't recommended.

No one knows the actual cost to move grain.

Once they set a new baseline considering fewer points and longer trains and dedicated trains.

The only part on the transportation logistics that could speed up is the rails.

Elevators load in 25 hours. Unload at poet in 24 hours.

It's the schedule of trains and proper spotting that has to speed up along with Interswitching at the west coast. Enormous fees there for no reason.

[riders2010]

Not sure why us farmers think including the grain cos as being on our side? They use the shitty rail service as an excuse to do things or not and also use it to manipulate basis and print money.
We need one of these so called farmer groups to actually do something.

And as far as ritz another after the fact expert had a majority gov for how many years?

[bucket]

It's more like that's exactly what ritz would have done with the report if he was still on the government side.

He had plenty of time to call for an immediate review and act.

It should have been done prior to august 2012 to reset the playing field.

Graincos will never issue level of service complaints it's against their best interests.

[wmoebis]

Rider are you talking about a Grain Farmers Advocacy Office? And maybe give them power to over see trans and contracts. Like was suggested in the Compas review ordered by the gov't in 2004 but never implemented.

[foragefarmer]

The ostrich farmer is squawking away, now that he's an arm chair quarterback.

What a big dud, if I was you Hopalong I'd leave his name out of any rational conversation, it does reflect well on you!

[Hopalong]

Remember appearing at Compas hearing,
Was pleasantly surprised at recommendations after status quo supporters, then as now, were so much against change.
Was disappointed with lack of support from growers and graincos.
With advantage of hindsight, suspect that Compas proposed solution would have been caught up in wheat board debate and largely ineffective.

[wmoebis]

The CWB is gone and Advocacy Office could have been set up anytime. Or at the very least left the Office of Assisstant Commissioners and expanded thier powers to include trans and contract issues.

[bucket]

Wmoebis

All these little things should have been set up before the august 1 2012 deadline.

I thought they were no brainers due to there simplicity and the fact the Americans take them for granted.

Very let down with ritz's efforts on the implementation of the open market.

[tweety]

CN and Cp have hundreds of lawyers to stop any recommendations from any committee. Nothing will change, nothing has in many years.

[bucket]

Well until someone in government grows a set or understands joint running rights.

Or implements the equivalent of the surface transportation board in canada where ****er harrison can not tell them to **** off.

[farmaholic]

I truly believe both sides are so far apart it will take a long time to slowly move toward something workable.

The RRs proabably want no regulation and grain shippers want service, but at what cost? To the point of choking the grain industry? Because without regulation and relying on only "commercial contracts(at who knows what "negotiated"COST)" I see the grain industry getting squeezed to much. There is no ****ing competition and won't be any any time soon. So what does that really leave us with?

[Hopalong]

Not saying position of present Ag minister on CTA review is much different to Ritz on Compas, both reviews ordered by previous governments.
Reluctance to make change coming from growers, graincos and others makes it more difficult for them.
Only have to look at comments on this forum to start believing that change will not be supported by voters.