The president of APAS has written to federal government Ministers commending them for reaching an agreement in principle to facilitate the transfer of ownership of the Hudson Bay Rail line and Port of Churchill.
鈥淭he Port of Churchill鈥檚 future success is very important to Saskatchewan agricultural producers,鈥� Lewis wrote. 鈥淐hurchill is the closest tide water port for a significant grain growing region in North East Saskatchewan. The Port provides favourable access to European and African markets and will likely be the only port in Canada to offer independent grain handling and vessel loading services.鈥�
Lewis continued that APAS is pleased to see the transfer of ownership occurring with the recent passage of Bill C-49 the Transportation Modernization Act.
鈥淲e believe the provisions in Bill C-49 will improve rail service to all ports in Canada, including the Port of Churchill.鈥�
APAS Vice President Ian Boxall of Tisdale believes an important part of the deal to ensure the Port of Churchill鈥檚 commercial success is a plan for the rehabilitation and re-opening of CN鈥檚 Tisdale Subdivision from Crooked River to Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. This line is currently inactive.
鈥淭he closure of the Tisdale Subdivision requires grain from North East Saskatchewan to travel hundreds of kilometres further than necessary to reach the rail head at the Pas, Manitoba,鈥� Boxall explained. 鈥淥nce the port reopens for grain shipments, we are concerned that these additional freight costs will continue to undermine Churchill鈥檚 commercial potential.鈥�
APAS has also written to senior management at Canadian National Railways to stress the importance of the Tisdale rail line and to request comment on a plan to restore service that would support the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill.
