Agriculture committee  They say that they're unreliable in supply, that the ocean rates fluctuate, and they gave various other reasons. The quandary we're left in is that most of our non-board grains that go through the port, which comprise about 35% of the grain, are carried almost exclusively in salties.

Agriculture committee  Well, certainly car turnaround is a big factor. I think the elevators in Thunder Bay have come a long way in that regard. A lot has to do with the incentives placed on larger car blocks. They've responded to that. There are a couple of facilities in Thunder Bay that are capable of unit trains.

Agriculture committee  In terms of the car turnaround time, I'd have to defer to CN about how long it would take to get the cars back from Quebec versus going to Thunder Bay. The economic impact is generally considered to be $50 a tonne. So on 850,000 tonnes a year, you're looking at about $400,000 for economic impact of the seaway--if it had gone down the seaway.

Agriculture committee  I'm sorry, it would be $4 million.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. On behalf of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to appear before you here today. The history of the Port of Thunder Bay is based on grain transportation. The first grain elevator in the port began operations in 1884.