The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has decided it will not hear the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) Level of Service Complaint originally filed on May 26, 2014. In its decision, which responds to motions to dismiss from both railways, the CTA concluded there was not sufficient evidence to proceed with the complaint, according to a CCGA press release.
“The CTA’s decision to not hear our complaint is a big blow to tens of thousands of Western Canadian farmers,” says Rick White, CEO of CCGA. “Many of these farmers experienced both short and long-term economic hardship resulting from the breakdown of rail service by both major railways during the 2013-14 shipping season.”
Industry statistics show there is plenty of evidence that this past shipping season was a failure; at the peak, over 70,000 rail car orders were unfilled while ships waited at port because stocks at grain terminals were at historic lows, says the CCGA.
The CCGA’s White, says that one of the association’s most pressing concerns with the decision is the fact that by dismissing this complaint, the broader systemic problems with rail service will not be addressed. “While this decision is not what we had hoped for, CCGA will continue exploring further options after giving full consideration to the decision,” says White.
Real Agriculture editor, Lyndsey Smith, asks White, in the interview below, what happens now, what farmers could have learned if the complaint had moved forward and what the CCGA does now.
Related: The CCGA files, on behalf of farmers, a level of service complaint against railways
If you can’t see the player below, click here.