Grain Growers of Canada

May 22, 2018

Grain Farmers Applaud Passage of Bill C-49

Bill will help prevent another grain backlog in Western Canada

OTTAWA (May 22, 2018) – Canadian grain farmers are applauding today’s passage of Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act. The House of Commons and Senate voted in favour of the Bill, paving the way for it to receive Royal Assent and become law as early as tomorrow.

“Grain farmers have been waiting years for a legislative fix to Canada’s rail transportation system,” said Jeff Nielsen, President of Grain Growers of Canada (...

May 11, 2018

Statement: Grain Growers of Canada comment on continued delays to Bill C-49

“Grain farmers across Canada are disappointed that Bill C-49 was not passed this week. This Bill has been through significant debate and it is time that MPs and Senators allow Bill C-49 to pass once and for all. It is essential that when the House comes back, partisan politics and procedural tactics are put aside and Parliamentarians do what is best for grain farmers by passing C-49.”

- Jeff Nielsen, President, Grain Growers of Canada

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Lindsey Ehman
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June 1, 2017

Unreliable grain transport – the case for good policy

This week we narrowly avoided a labour disruption at CN Rail. Once again, shippers in Canada were left in limbo on the future reliability of one of our two major railways. The panic that strikes the shippers in a situation like this is a symptom of the inherent problems with our rail system. What should be a mutually beneficial partnership is one that is strongly impacted by the fact that there are only two major railways in Canada. They have ...

May 19, 2017

Rail Bill promises long-term solutions for grain shipping in Canada

Concerns remain regarding the sunset of extended interswitching clause on August 1, 2017

May 19, 2017 (OTTAWA) - Grain Growers of Canada, the national voice of grain farmers, was pleased to see the May 16 introduction of Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act. The Bill contains many of the proposals long advocated by the grain industry to correct imbalances and improve the reliability of the grain freight rail system.

“It is clear that farmer voices have been heard,” said Jeff Nielsen, GGC President. “Grain farmers ...

May 19, 2017

Crop Logistics Working Group Resumes Important Work Under Fourth Mandate

Winnipeg, Manitoba – May 19, 2017 Representatives from across the grains value chain welcomed this week’s announcement by Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay that the Crop Logistics Working Group (CLWG) would be re-established for a fourth mandate. The important work of the CLWG includes providing a regular forum for grain industry stakeholders to exchange views and identify supply chain challenges and commercial solutions aimed at enhancing the transparency and effectiveness of the grain handling transportation system.

“The CLWG has been invaluable in providing ...

May 8, 2017

Grain Growers call for extension to grain rail provisions

May 8, 2017 (OTTAWA) – Grain Growers of Canada today called for the federal government to extend the provisions in the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act (Bill C-30) that mandate the timely transportation of grain. This is essential to ensure that they are available for the upcoming grain year and that progress does not expire with the sunset date of Aug 1, 2017.

“Grain farmers have seen the positive impact of the emergency measures put in place in 2014,” said Jeff Nielsen, GGC President and ...

November 3, 2016

Transportation 2030 plan paves way for a level playing field for grain shippers

OTTAWA, November 3, 2016 – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is pleased that Minister Marc Garneau’s long-awaited announcement on Canada’s national transportation strategy includes measures that address and respond to key recommendations made by the grain sector.

Throughout the consultation process, Canada’s grain farmers and other players in the grain supply chain have stressed the urgent need for measures that will create a level playing field between the railways and shippers. The inclusion of reciprocal penalties, a clear definition ...

November 30, 2014

Grain Growers welcome extension of minimum grain volume requirements for railways

OTTAWA, November 30, 2014 – The Grain Growers of Canada today lauded the announcement from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Transport Canada extending the Order in Council for minimum grain carriage volume requirements.

This extension should help ensure that the rail shipping deficiencies experienced last winter do not recur and the orderly movement of grain continues through March 2015.

“Transport Minister Lisa Raitt and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz are once again demonstrating leadership in providing key support for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector”, ...

March 7, 2014

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes announcement on rail service

WINNIPEG, MB, March 7, 2014 - The Grain Growers of Canada welcomed today's announcement from Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport Canada, who are taking action to address the immediate grain backlog, helping deal with rail system logistics issues.

"We want to thank Ministers Ritz and Raitt for listening and taking action," said Gary Stanford, Grain Growers of Canada President. "We have held meetings with both of the Ministers and other government officials to ...

February 3, 2014

Grain Growers supports action on rail service

WINNIPEG, MB, Feb. 3, 2014 – Today in Winnipeg Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz released the Crop Logistics Working Group (CLWG) recommendations to improve rail service and the competitiveness of the supply chain.

“We want to thank Minister Ritz for continuing to recognise the rail capacity needs of grain farmers and the urgency of the current situation,” says Grain Growers Director, Dennis Thiessen from the announcement in Winnipeg today. “These recommendations make sense and they are needed at this time. Improving the frequency of ...

January 21, 2014

Grain Growers opens direct dialogue with railways and grain companies on rail service

WINNIPEG, MB, Jan. 21, 2014 – Today in Winnipeg Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) farmers met with railway officials and grain companies at a Ministerial roundtable to discuss the current state of affairs related to the grain backlog.

"We were satisfied with today's meeting and the direct dialogue that has begun with the railways and grain companies. We appreciate the federal government's initiative to provide a forum to voice concerns," says Brian Otto, Grain Growers' Director representative for the Western Barley Growers Association. "...

March 21, 2013

Grain Growers of Canada comments on Budget 2013

OTTAWA, March 21, 2013 – Grain Growers of Canada is neutral on the 2013 federal budget. “We are reassured to see this year’s federal budget document does not include any further erosion to agricultural research infrastructure, but we will have to wait and see more details about how previous budget cuts are put into practice before we weigh in one way or the other,” says Stephen Vandervalk, President of the Grain Growers of Canada. “While we realise going forward we will need to ...

December 11, 2012

Grain Growers pleased to see legislation assuring more balance with railways

OTTAWA, December 11, 2012 - The Grain Growers of Canada is optimistic about the Fair Rail Freight Service Act, Bill C-52, introduced in the House of Commons today. “This new legislation will go a long way to address our farmers’ shipping needs,” says Stephen Vandervalk, President of the Grain Growers of Canada. “We are thrilled to see this legislation moving through Parliament. A lot of hard work has gone into this.”

“We need to fully acknowledge the work of the Coalition of ...