Finally something to agree on

[just_wondering]

Liberals have finally said something that makes sense for all of Canada is it spring, or is there an election in the air?
- How will this play to their left leaning constituency?
- Will they agree with supporting the shippers rights proposal from last year?
- If we move commodities by rail is that not greener than by truck?
- Congrats for some policy with backbone and a willingness to take on the unions, I suggest that the Conservatives take this ball and run showing that good policy can come in a minority govt

Liberals Call for House to Resume to Enact Back-to-Work Legislation for CN
Rail

April 11, 2007 Ottawa - The Conservatives must reconvene the House of
Commons on Friday April 13, 2007, to proceed with legislation to end the
current work stoppage in the labour dispute between CN Rail and the United
Transportation Union, Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale said today.

"Railway service is vital for Canada's industries, farmers and the nation's
economy as a whole. Rail line disruptions and stoppages will cause
significant losses and layoffs. The government must address the issue
immediately," said Mr. Goodale.

Yesterday, members of the United Transportation Union voted against a
tentative agreement, which was reached on February 24, ending a 15-day
strike and averting back-to-work legislation. As a result the strike has
resumed.

Mr. Goodale said the government must fulfill its pledge to take immediate
action to resolve outstanding issues between the parties and avoid a further
work stoppage before it causes serious damage to the Canadian economy. That
would mean bringing back the House of Commons at the earliest possible
opportunity, which is this Friday.

[just_wondering]

News release

Winnipeg – The CWB is asking for federal back-to-work legislation to put an end to the resumed strike by 2,800 CN Rail conductors and yard workers.

“The resumption of this strike comes at a very bad time for western Canadian farmers, who need cash flow for spring seeding,” CWB President and CEO Greg Arason said. “If rail cars are not moving grain out of elevators, farmers cannot deliver and cannot be paid.”

The CWB requires strong and steady rail movement right until the end of the current crop year (July 31) to execute its sales program for the large 2006 crop. About seven million tonnes of CWB-eligible grain remain to be transported from Western Canada, roughly half on CN lines. In total this crop year, the CWB is relying on CN for transportation of approximately 10 million tonnes of wheat, durum and barley.

Arason said service delays caused by the labour disruption, especially so soon after the February work stoppage, are harmful to Canada’s reputation as a consistent, reliable grain supplier. “It is extremely important to protect our credibility with customers,” he said.

[just_wondering]

Media Release
>For Immediate Release: April 11, 2007
>
>Wheat Growers Call on Parliament to End CN Rail Strike
>
>The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is calling on the
>federal government to immediately introduce back-to-work legislation
>to put an end to the CN rail strike. The Wheat Growers also urge
>all Parliamentarians to facilitate its speedy passage, and to allow
>for an arbitrated solution if the railway and its workers are unable
>to reach a negotiated settlement.
>
>"In February, farmers witnessed the costly and crippling effects of
>a two-week rail strike," says Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, President of the
>Wheat Growers. "We don't want to see that happen again."
>
>The Wheat Growers note the cost of strikes in the rail sector are
>borne primarily by third parties, including farmers, rather than the
>railways or workers themselves. While it is difficult to estimate
>the full cost of these service disruptions, the February strike
>significantly impacted farmers through lost grain sales, vessel
>demurrage costs on wheat shipments, lower canola prices and severe
>rail service disruptions in the pulse industry. It also caused
>delays in fertilizer shipments and likely contributed to higher
>fertilizer prices.
>
>"Farmers suffer real financial losses every time there is a rail
>service disruption," says Jolly-Nagel. "Where should we send the
>bill?"
>
>In a letter to the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, the federal
>Minister of Labour, the Wheat Growers also call on the government to
>introduce legislation deeming railway operations to be an essential
>service, under which strikes and lockouts would be prohibited.
>Such a provision is already in place under the Canada Labour Code
>with respect to the loading of grain vessels by employers and
>employees in the longshoring industry.
>
>"It's unfortunate that it should come to this," says Jolly-Nagel.
>"However Parliament cannot stand by and watch farmers and other
>wealth creators continue to suffer at the hands of railway companies
>and workers who show such little regard for the impact their actions
>have on their captive customers."
>
>The Wheat Growers also see an urgent need to reduce our dependency
>on offshore exports of grain, so that farmers aren't forced to bear
>the brunt of rail service disruptions. Currently about 50% of
>western grain production is shipped by rail in raw form, with a
>further 10% shipped in processed form.
>
>"We need federal policies that encourage more grain use on the
>prairies, whether that's grain and oilseed processing, livestock,
>dairy, biofuels or any other activity that reduces our dependency on
>raw grain shipments," says Jolly-Nagel

[wd9]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 12, 2007

Canadian Canola Growers Call for Action on Rail Strike

Winnipeg, MB – The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) is demanding that
the Government immediately enact back-to-work legislation to avoid costly rail service
disruptions. The United Transportation Union (UTU) rejected a tentative one-year
agreement with the Canadian National Railway Company (CN), and rotating strike action
by UTU employees could threaten the movement of canola.



The Canadian canola industry depends heavily on rail transportation to move seed and oil
into export markets, and it is Canadian growers who incur the costs. “We simply cannot
allow rail service to continue to be disrupted like this” says CCGA President Brian
Tischler. “Our 60,000 canola growers end up paying a huge price in the end and that is
simply not acceptable.”



Rail transportation service has been poor this year due to a number of factors. A renewed
rotating strike is yet another disruption that could further bog down an already congested
logistics system. “When rail service is disrupted, Canadian growers are negatively
impacted on many fronts” says Rick White, CCGA’s Director of Policy Development.
“We will see futures prices for canola drop, we will see basis levels widen, elevators will
fill up and storage costs will be incurred, ocean vessels will wait triggering demurrage
charges, and our reputation as a reliable supplier of product will be damaged. All of
these costs in the end will be borne by the Canadian grower.”



CCGA urges the Government of Canada to immediately enact Bill C-46, the Railway
Continuation Act, to put an end to the labour dispute before it causes serious damage to
Canadian farmers and the Canadian economy.