Thank you, Chair. I'm really hoping that we can do what was done in the past and what has happened often in the agriculture committee: we leave politics at the door. We come into this room and this committee and we put farmers' best interests at the forefront.
Once again, I think we need to remind, I guess, the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Agriculture of what they could do. As I said before, there were measures taken by the Conservative government in 2013 and 2014. The Minister of Transport could take those measures now to improve grain movement immediately. That's what people are looking at us to be doing. They're looking at us to find solutions. This is something that can be done today or tomorrow: writing a letter and making sure that we're reminding and putting pressure on the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Agriculture. It's something that will get things moving faster, hopefully. As for writing to the Senate, as you well know, the senators are not working this week and next week. Then they are back, and we are back and sitting on the 19th.
There is a sense of urgency, and I think everybody around this table can agree that action needs to be taken. I guess my concern is, why is there such a push-back from members on the other side of the table? Why are you so reticent—almost afraid—to put pressure on these ministers to act? I remember the Conservatives back in the day. We all worked together. Even when they were in government, we found common ground and we came to an agreement.
I would like to remind my colleagues on the other side that you have a job to do, and a responsibility. You have to put pressure on your own government and the ministers. I'm hoping that we can agree unanimously to write a letter to the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Agriculture asking them to immediately take up all the tools that are available to them. If they do go ahead with an order in council and penalties and if grain is not moving in an appropriate manner, it's time to take out the big stick. I think we're at a point where there is no choice. I'm hoping to have agreement from the Liberals on the other side.