Mr. Speaker, the problem being faced by the prairie grain industry in getting grain to port position this winter is a very serious one.
The Canadian Wheat Board now estimates that it will have to roll 1.5 million tonnes from its January shipping program into the February program. The Canadian Wheat Board estimates this rollover may result in a deferred cash flow for prairie farmers of $285 million and that selling the 1.5 million tonne shortfall outside the premium old crop price months may result in a loss of approximately $50 million in revenue to the 1996-97 pool accounts.
This has been one of the worst winters in the last 100 years with respect to snowfall in the Rockies and the extreme cold on the prairies. While I agree that this has exacerbated the shipping problem, it does not account for the entire delay being experienced.
It is my understanding the current problems relate to the availability of locomotive power in the railway system.
Clearly this is a railroad responsibility and the railways have indicated they are taking steps to increase the availability of locomotives and to make the shipping of prairie grains a priority for them.
Rather than finger pointing and laying blame to the industry, we should take steps to working out this current problem and making certain that we deal with it on an urgent strategic action base to make sure that backlogs to not occur as they have in the past.
As members know, the legislative rule of the federal government is limited. However, the federal government can have a role in leading industry toward both a long and short term solution.
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has already been in touch with many of the key players in the western grains industry. He is now pursuing further discussions on an urgent basis to get the grain moving faster through the system.
Canada's customers and prairie farmers should not be subjected to such recurring problems in our grain transportation system.