Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Comité permanent des transports, de l'infrastructure et des collectivités

For immediate release

Ottawa, December 14, 2016 -

After conducting five public hearings in September 2016, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities tabled its report in the House of Commons today entitled: A Study of the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act. During the study, the Committee examined provisions of the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act due to sunset on 1 August 2017 and also heard from witnesses about other factors affecting the transportation of grain by rail.

The Committee heard testimony from 19 witnesses, including grain growers, grain shippers, the rail industry and other commodity industry groups that have been affected by the changes made to the Canada Transportation Act by the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act.

The Committee has adopted 17 recommendations concerning measures that would be subject to revocation on 1 August 2017, as well as other issues affecting the efficiency of the grain supply chain in Canada. Among other things, the recommendations seek to:

• position rail shippers and short line railway companies on a more even footing with Canada’s largest freight railway companies;

• enable increased information-sharing requirements on all participants in the grain supply chain; and

• provide more clarity on certain terms set out in the Canada Transportation Act.

The Committee also recommends that the Canadian Transportation Agency have the authority to initiate investigations into the performance of the rail transportation system and to make system-wide orders. Other recommendations contained in the report seek to foster a business environment in which railway companies have incentives to make adequate investments in grain transportation infrastructure.

To learn more about the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and read the report as well as transcripts from previous meetings, please visit the Committee website: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/TRAN