CFIB MEETS WITH LIBERAL M.P. Re: GRAIN TRANSPORTATION REFORM
CFIB agri-business policy analyst Rob Meijer met with Liberal M.P. Reg Alcock to discuss proposed reforms to the Canadian grain handling and transportation system. Reg Alcock has been active on the transportation file for the last 5 years and recently chaired a Western Liberal Caucus report on reforms to the existing framework. Rob also took the opportunity to briefly present Mr. Alcock with CFIB's report card on the federal budget, emphasizing our positive reaction to the government's decision to provide meaningful tax relief for small- and medium-sized business, and consumers.
In greater length, Rob shared our agri-business members' priorities for transportation reform. With respect to the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Mr. Alcock openly stated that he was not a supporter of monopolies and agreed with Rob that the railways and the CWB have not operated in an efficient and transparent manner. Mr. Alcock said he, among others, is pushing for a 'transparency clause' for the CWB, whereby annual reviews would be conducted by the federal government to ensure the Board is operating in the best interest of producers. Rob agreed a transparency clause is needed, however given the CWB's autonomy from external audit, there is little hope the CWB would fully comply voluntarily. On the issue of rail access, Rob was told that for years the federal government has been pushing for open access with great resistance from the railways. The railways have claimed that open access would allow US companies with lower safety and customer service standards into the country. In fact, US railways currently have access to the Canadian market and yet have remained relatively invisible to our market. In discussing the 12 percent rail revenue cap proposed by Mr. Arthur Kroeger, Mr. Alcock said he is looking for a 16 percent reduction of 1998 revenues, while the railways are demanding a 0 percent cap of 1998 revenues - which happened to be an above average year for profits.
As it is expected the federal government will move forward with grain transportation reform over the next few weeks, CFIB has already sent its submission to Transportation Minister David Collenette calling for deregulation, open access, transparency, accountability, and increased responsiveness in meeting our agri-business members' grain handling and transportation needs. Rob echoed these themes in our productive meeting with this important M.P.
CFIB agri-business policy analyst Rob Meijer met with Liberal M.P. Reg Alcock to discuss proposed reforms to the Canadian grain handling and transportation system. Reg Alcock has been active on the transportation file for the last 5 years and recently chaired a Western Liberal Caucus report on reforms to the existing framework. Rob also took the opportunity to briefly present Mr. Alcock with CFIB's report card on the federal budget, emphasizing our positive reaction to the government's decision to provide meaningful tax relief for small- and medium-sized business, and consumers.
In greater length, Rob shared our agri-business members' priorities for transportation reform. With respect to the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Mr. Alcock openly stated that he was not a supporter of monopolies and agreed with Rob that the railways and the CWB have not operated in an efficient and transparent manner. Mr. Alcock said he, among others, is pushing for a 'transparency clause' for the CWB, whereby annual reviews would be conducted by the federal government to ensure the Board is operating in the best interest of producers. Rob agreed a transparency clause is needed, however given the CWB's autonomy from external audit, there is little hope the CWB would fully comply voluntarily. On the issue of rail access, Rob was told that for years the federal government has been pushing for open access with great resistance from the railways. The railways have claimed that open access would allow US companies with lower safety and customer service standards into the country. In fact, US railways currently have access to the Canadian market and yet have remained relatively invisible to our market. In discussing the 12 percent rail revenue cap proposed by Mr. Arthur Kroeger, Mr. Alcock said he is looking for a 16 percent reduction of 1998 revenues, while the railways are demanding a 0 percent cap of 1998 revenues - which happened to be an above average year for profits.
As it is expected the federal government will move forward with grain transportation reform over the next few weeks, CFIB has already sent its submission to Transportation Minister David Collenette calling for deregulation, open access, transparency, accountability, and increased responsiveness in meeting our agri-business members' grain handling and transportation needs. Rob echoed these themes in our productive meeting with this important M.P.
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