Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 7, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba A10 regional Winnipeg Jim 2000 in chief slams Ottawa plan to Cap Grain hauling revenues by Paul Samyn Ottawa the head of Canadian National railways yesterday branded Federal legislation to Reform the Grain transportation system a Public policy failure that robs the railroads to pay Prairie in what he admitted was brutally Blunt testimony before the Federal transport Paul Tellier said Bill c34 does nothing to address problems in How Farmers Grain is shipped to Tellier accused the Chretien government of ignoring the work by Willard Estey and Arthur Kroeger in studying the Issue and choosing to use railway profits to fatten the pockets of we feel this is a politically expedient scheme to address the real problems of the farm income crisis in the Prairies and to do it at the detriment of the rail cons president Bill c34 which is now being rushed through parliament will deliver Mil lion in annual savings to Farmers by introducing a Cap on revenues railways can earn from hauling Prairie the Cap a major attempt by the liberals to reach out to hard pressed farm ers and Western voters would take affect 1 and will be 18 per cent lower than that initially trans lating into a saving of per Kroeger report had recommended a 12 per cent Cap in Tellier said it is unfair that the rail ways Are being singled out for a Revenue especially since rail freight rates Are the Only farm input Cost to have decreased Over the past 12 we think this represents a Complete failure of the Public policy Tel Lier i cannot recall any other piece of is supposed to address a problem failing so Tellier was no Kinder in a letter he wrote to transport minister David col Lenette which in released in that May 19 Tellier said the review of the Grain transportation sys tem has been hijacked by those who wanted a Quick fix to the farm income the proposed 18 per cent reduction in these rates will decrease Canadian rail ways annual income by this Money will not go to funding needed reforms in the Canadian Grain Indus nor will it serve As an incentive to reduce system costs and improve Effi it will go towards subsidizing West Ern Canadian farm this con in my a Transfer of Public responsibility to the private Don president of Keystone agricultural producers said the railways and their healthy profit margins can afford to pay Back some of what they have reaped from they were Given a licence to steal in 1995 when they the Federal govern ment ended the Western Grain transportation Dewar i think they Are really crying Dewar said if Ottawa allowed real rail there would be no need for a Revenue Bill c34s Reform package will also introduce changes to the Canadian wheat boards role with a requirement that it phase in tendering of its shipping which will reach 50 per cent by the Cwb does not tender any of its shipments to a move which has worried several sup porters of the Grain Little help for Farmers in three month forecast by Bud Robertson Farmers hoping for extra rain to help their crops along May not get their environment Canadas Outlook for the next three months Calls for below Normal precipitation across Southern adding to an already parched Spring in some areas of the and that not Good new for farm ers like Don who needs rain to get his crops its the air is said who farms near i cant remember it being that who is also president of Keystone agricultural added there Hast been any significant moisture in the area since last Winter and combined with Cool has slowed crop he Farmers can still get a decent crop off this year if it Rains when it if its timely moisture you can live with less than the Normal precipitation for Southern Manitoba is Millimetres in 72 my in july and my in depending on the precipitation amounts Are expected to be at least 20 to 40 my below nor Mal summer Are expected to be near Normal for the the Normal daily High for the Winnipeg area is in in july and for Dave a crop specialist with Manitoba agriculture soils and crops noted that while the Northwest part of the province is Many other areas have received Ade quate amounts of in some parts of Southwest Ern Manitoba and the Interlake have received More rain than said seeding of oilseed and peas is All but finished in according to a report from while specially crops such As Canary seed and lentils Are 30 to 50 per cent Rogers for you can use this for about 30 or this for 350 wireless Winnipeg 2599 Pembina at Bison 2611234 Tyndall Market mall 6971234 888 James 9899500 Polo Park 7742412 vital Centre 9892939 9892927 1500 Regent 9883080 212 Henderson 9892954 Marlon 9892944 Portage place 9460721 1026 marys 9873444 to Centre 9873443 2609 Portage at Moray 9542939 Linden Woods Market 9542929 Brandon 440 Rosser 7291900 shoppers mall Brandon 7252900 Carman 4 Centre Avenue 7452644 Winkler Southland mall 3255001 or f talk plenty r 20 Access to digital i t Means clearer a Battery Jfe More talk time vhf f a Sirij i v iji4i 1 up v Istre Winnipeg crazy crazy 1509 Matthews 7720461 prime time communication 671 Pembina 9251260 West can cellular 251 notre Dame 9823600 mind computer products 1745 Ellice Avenue 7832001 vip worldwide second level Canada Post skywalk 9479570 mop world unit 03 marys 2334135 Beausejour Beausejour tire 751 Park 2682826 lunar vat Roncs 7 main 7625032 Russell Hometown electronics 154 main 7733448 Steinbach sobering Security 144 Highway 12 3264186 Selkirk Balnes 366 main Street 4823657 Virden sobering communications Virden shoppers mall 7483003 As a credit on future Rogers monthly offer expires july offer applies on oneyear term plans starting from for existing hardware May not Call for existing customer applicable taxes Are system fees May free Headset offer applies to select digital handsets and is redeemed through Mallin Coupon Par second Billing applies after the first communications used under used under Rural office ;