Winnipeg, MB — 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 feedback to industry and policy makers about the challenges of getting our farm products to market in a timely manner," says Jeff Nielsen, President, Grain Growers of Canada. "The continuation of the CLWG means grassroots stakeholders will have the opportunity to take stock of grain supply chain successes and challenges and provide recommendations back to government."
Western Canada's grain industry relies on rail transportation to ship approximately 50 million tonnes annually of Canadian grains, oilseeds and pulse crops from over 41,000 farms and value-added processing facilities to customers around the globe every year.
"A forum like the CLWG will help to improve logistical efficiencies in a dispersed and complex product pipeline," says Wade Sobkowich, Executive Director, Western Grain Elevator Association. "We thank Minister MacAulay for his leadership in re-establishing the group and continuing to forge bridges between important partners in the agriculture and transportation sectors."
With planting of the 2017 crop progressing rapidly, and grain transportation reforms being a central theme of Transport Minister Marc Garneau's Transportation 2030 vision, there couldn't be a better time to reconvene the work of the CLWG. The grain sector stands to benefit greatly from an ongoing, frank dialogue such as this one on a regular basis. Taken in step with policy changes that encourage a transparent, balanced relationship between grain shippers and railways, the sector will be well positioned to seize the growing opportunities that lie ahead.
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Contact:
Todd Lewis, President, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
306-537-6561
Phil de Kemp, Executive Director, Barley Council of Canada
613-290-7336
Rick White, CEO, Canadian Canola Growers Association
204-789-8821
Chris Vervaet, Executive Director, Canadian Oilseed Processors Association
204-956-9500
Cam Dahl, President, Cereals Canada
204-942-2166
Fiona Cook, Grain Growers of Canada
613-233-9954 (x201)
Kevin Hursh, Executive Director, Inland Terminal Association of Canada
306-222-0238
Dan Mazier, President, Keystone Agricultural Producers
204-720-4646
Art Enns, President, Prairie Oat Growers Association
204-746-5037
Chris Masciotra, Director of Corporate Affairs, Soy Canada
613-233-0001
Wade Sobkowich, Executive Director, Western Grain Elevator Association
204-942-6835