Should CN and CP pay 'Prairie grain producers' back?

[TOM4CWB]

Canadian Transportation Agency Decision No. 67-R-2008 paragraph nine
states:

9.
It is estimated that during the first seven years under the Revenue Cap
Program (i.e. from crop year 2000-2001 to crop year 2006-2007) the
railway companies received more than $550 million for hopper car
maintenance costs while incurring less than $250 million for this
maintenance. Thus, in the period, the railway companies have received at
least $300 million more than they have spent on hopper car maintenance,
and this has been paid by Prairie grain producers. Moreover, the difference
between the amount the railway companies receive under the Revenue Cap
Program and what they incur as hopper car maintenance costs has been
growing at an increasing rate.

[rook]

On the pendulum of more regulation or less
regulation, I would guess the Harper gov't swings
towards less regulation. I can't see us getting this
money back or Harper further restricting RRs in the
future. The only thing I could hope for is better service
for the money we pay.

[TOM4CWB]

I believe the Government fixed the problem after CN and CP went over the Cap and lost the case before the courts.

The WGRF got the $70M which included a penalty for going over the Transportation Cap.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[TOM4CWB]

I believe the settlement was on 2007-08.

[$short]

The whole process of ending the monopoly has
to include the rail service review and changes to
the Canada Grain Act in regards to the CGC.

The rail service review outlined a " penalty
process" for both the shipper and the railway
should either fail to perform. At least that's what
I understand, someone correct me if I'm wrong.
If these measures aren't addressed when we go
to an open market this overcharging as well as
failure to perform will be even more prevalent.

I don't agree with much the cwb does but they
did have the ability to somewhat keep the
railways in line.

[TOM4CWB]

$short,

I understand the changes to CTA legislation must be reintroduced as they were lost when the election was forced.

There were very helpful shipper freindly amendments proposed. The CWB has done some work to force arbitrage... much more could have been initiated by Goodale had he truly been working for growers. This is what I was talking about from 2000-06.

Goodale and the CTA failed to do their jobs... and grain growers paid a huge cost. Much more than $300M. Market arbitage was stopped in so many ways. Small grain handlers paid so much... including with the destruction of their lifes work and businesses.