Mr. Speaker, this year Canadian farmers will have to pay $44 million more to haul their grain because the Liberal government refuses to reform the grain transportation system.
Last week the CTA announced that regulated freight rates will be going up 4.5%. This is the latest graphic demonstration of the failure of the status quo.
A reformed system could save farmers $300 million each year in lower freight rates. Yet instead of going down, freight rates will be going up.
The government's own experts have recommended a clear path to reform. Give farmers a contractual driven system and remove the Canadian Wheat Board's total control over grain transportation. However, defending pet Liberal causes like monopoly control by the Canadian Wheat Board is more important to the government than improving the farmers' bottom line.
If the Liberals really cared about the plight of farm families, they would stop defending the current broken system and immediately give farmers the reforms they so desperately need. Where is the transportation minister on this issue?