Mr. Speaker, western Canadians are completely shocked with the 4.5% hike in freight rates announced for grain last week.
Short weeks after the wheat board minister promised more than 1,000 SARM delegates that they could expect $150 million in reductions this year in freight rates, the rates are actually going up by $44 million. It is unfair, unwarranted, unbelievable and the reaction across the prairies and in Saskatchewan particularly is unprintable.
Will the transport minister tell the House why he has not already ordered a suspension of this outrageous increase?