Ottawa, Canada – Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris and Chair of the Conservative Forest Caucus is pleased about the Conservative Government’s decision last Friday to fast track the fixing of rail service problems.
“For some time now, we’ve been working with industry and stakeholders to help create a more efficient rail freight system. The issues identified in the Final Report of the Rail Freight Service Review is most welcomed news,” said Mr. Harris.
At the request of the Conservative Government, the Rail Freight Service Review was launched in 2008 to address ongoing issues with rail freight service and fulfill a government commitment.
The Rail Freight Service Review Panel recommendations include these four elements:
- Railways should provide 10 days’ advanced notice of service changes.
- Railways and stakeholders should negotiate service agreements.
- A fair, timely and cost-effective commercial dispute resolution mechanism should be developed.
- Supply chain performance should be monitored through enhanced bilateral performance reporting between shippers and railways, and through public performance reporting.
MP Harris continued, “Not only will the Government of Canada act quickly to implement the panel’s recommendations, we will go even further.”
Harris explained that the Conservative Government will proceed with tabling a bill giving shippers a right to a service agreement with the railways and provide a process to establish an agreement, should commercial negotiations fail; and also take a broader supply chain perspective to continue addressing logistical issues and develop public performance metrics.
“I am especially pleased because as the Chair I have been working closely with the Forest Products Association of Canada, of which members include local lumber companies, Tolko, Canfor and West Fraser. These rail service improvements will go a long way to sustain good and well paying jobs in the forest sector,” concluded Mr. Harris.
