Industry Group to Identify Efficiencies in Canada's Grain Handling System

News Release

February 19, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today that the Crop Logistics Working Group (CLWG) has received a renewed mandate to bring together agriculture sector experts to provide advice on how to improve the grain handling and transportation system. The working group will be chaired by Mr. Murdoch MacKay and will include representation from across the agriculture sector. The first meeting is happening today in Winnipeg.

The renewal of the CLWG is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to provide an ongoing forum for representatives across the industry to discuss the improvements needed throughout the supply chain. The CLWG will support agriculture sector input into the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) review and the Transport Canada Commodity Supply Chain Table. The CLWG will provide agricultural stakeholders a forum to identify solutions to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the grain handling system and identify areas for future research.

Quick facts

This is the third mandate for the group which has also provided input to the Rail Freight Service Review implementation process and worked on improving the performance of the supply chain for all crops, with a focus on innovation, capacity, and stakeholder collaboration.
The mandate of the renewed CLWG is from February 2015 to July 2015 and will include representation from across the agriculture sector.
The government has taken concrete steps to improve the performance of the entire rail supply chain to help farmers get their crops to market, which include passing Bill C-30 (the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act); implementing regulations to clear the backlog of grain; opening new markets for grain farmers and eliminating tariffs on Canadian grains; delivering Marketing Freedom to Western Canadian grain producers; and launching a review of Canada’s transportation legislation a year ahead of schedule.

Quotes

"Canada’s crop industry is a vital part of the Canadian economy and we will continue to work with all parts of the supply chain to get farmers’ products to market. The renewed mandate for the CLWG will support the Government’s long-term strategy to strengthen and modernize Canada’s grain sector to position it for future growth."
- Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

"I look forward to working with my industry colleagues to find ways of improving and strengthening the grain supply chain."
- Murdoch MacKay, chair of the Crop Logistics Working Group and Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission

Additional links

Contacts

Jeff English
Director of Communication
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

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Industry Group to Identify Efficiencies in Canada's Grain Handling System

News Release

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