​​​​​​​​​​​​Winnipeg, MB  --  This week’s announcement by the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, which establishes the Crop Logistics Working Group on rail transportation, is another important step in implementing the recommendations coming out of Transport Canada’s Rail Service Review.

“Canola is Canada’s number one cash crop for farmers and with over 80 percent of the crop exported, responsive rail service is essential to our industry, says Rick White, General Manager of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) and member of the Working Group. “We’re very pleased that canola farmers have been invited to the Working Group table and we look forward to getting the dialogue started immediately."

CCGA has advocated for changes to Canada’s rail system that encourage commercial shipping arrangements and more responsive rail service for shippers. A timely and efficient rail system is required to maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of canola and to continue to expand canola export markets.

The Crop Logistics Working Group will provide a forum for dialogue among stakeholders along the crop value chain to exchange views and work to improve the logistical system for farmers, grain handlers and customers. This is important to ensure that canola moves through the system in a timely manner, providing a reliable source of canola for export markets and reducing storage time and costs to farmers and grain handlers.

Recommendations from the Group will focus on where the system can be streamlined and improved and what issues need to be addressed in order to do so.

The CCGA represents 43,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability and is a member of the Coalition of Rail Shippers.

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Contact:
Kelly Green, Director of Communications 
Canadian Canola Growers Association 
Phone: 204.789.8821 
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca