CSCA Discovers Transportation

VANCOUVER - Jan 5/06 - SNS -- The Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA) officially changed its mind about transportation in western Canada and now believes the issue "the single biggest threat to the Canadian pulses and special crops industry."

In making the comment, Murad Al-Katib, Vice-President of the CSCA and Program Director for the Transportation Committee, said to meet the threat the association will embark on a three year "Blue-Print for Transportation" initiative.

Under the resolution passed at a recent strategic planning meeting of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Special Crops Association in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the CSCA will "push its resources into this area".

Efforts to focus attention on Canada's transportation problem by STAT's Brian Clancey were publicly discounted by the CSCA last fall. Despite that official position, a recent consultation with the CSCA membership -- made up of processors, exporters, buyers and brokers of pulses and special crops -- discovered transportation was the unanimous choice as the single issue of focus for the industry.

"We must react to the industry's voice. It is loud and clear. Status quo will lead to irreparable harm to our industry. We will not stand down on this issue. We will work with all levels of government, the railways and ocean container lines to bring solutions to the table. It is time to implement solutions. Just complaining that we have a problem is not enough," stated CSCA President Steve Foster.

The three year Blue Print for Transportation will address issues of concern to the industry, such as railway traffic efficiency, government transportation policy, labor disputes, infrastructure needs in rail, roads and ports and intermodal and container access at inland destinations.

"This issue is costing our members millions of dollars annually. It impacts all levels of our industry from processors to pulse growers," added Foster.

The CSCA will start by taking stock of the current situation, and by benchmarking car and intermodal equipment availability (allocations versus requests) and cycle times during different times of the year.

In addition the Association will co-host a National Transportation Forum in Regina during February 8 to 9th, 2006 along with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Regina Regional Economic Development Agency to kick-start the campaign along with senior officials from transportation sector.

The three year Blue Print for Transportation will seek to provide answers to the following questions:

- Is the railway revenue cap for grain transportation saving the industry money or is it costing the industry millions of dollars in inefficiencies?

- What are the transportation inefficiencies costing the special crops industry on an annual basis?

- What are the long-term effects of sporadic labor conflicts in Vancouver and Montreal to Canada's image (or brand) of reliable supplier?

- Should containerized movement of grain be declared an essential service, as is the case for bulk grains?

- How does Canada stack up to its competitors when it comes to reliability of delivery for special crops?

- What do we know regarding the transportation laws of destination countries?

- What factors would allow the industry to decrease handling and transportation costs, including transloading?

- How can we improve rail traffic efficiencies?