The loonie’s decline since last year has led federal regulators to dial up the index guiding how much money Canada’s big two railways get to keep from hauling Prairie grain. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) announced Friday it will raise its volume-related composite price index (VRCPI) by 4.8 per cent, to 1.3275, for the 2016-17 […] Read more
Cost index for railways’ grain revenue cap gets boost
Ottawa moves to extend expanded rail interswitching
Prairie crop growers hoping that changes in federal rail freight rules will continue past their expiration date are about to get their wish. Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced they would bring forward a resolution in Parliament to extend provisions of the previous government’s Bill C-30, the Fair Rail […] Read more
CP pulls more grain for less in first quarter
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) hauled more carloads of Canadian grain in its first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year — but for less revenue per car. Calgary-based CP on Wednesday reported overall net income of $540 million on revenues of $1.591 billion for its quarter ending March 31, up from $320 […] Read more
Ad Feature: Edmonton firm acquires water works capacity
Edmonton-based Stantec Inc., an engineering and infrastructure consulting company, has announced the biggest deal in its 62-year history. The all-cash deal for Broomfield, Colorado-based MWH Global, which Stantec said is expected to close in the second quarter could increase Stantec’s annual revenues by about 60 per cent, to more than $4.5 billion, while its global […] Read more
Prairie farmers look to increase tech use, but face obstacles
CNS Canada — As spring approaches, some producers are searching for new technology to integrate into their operations — while others have opted out of the ag tech sector, whether by choice or through a lack of accessibility. “Even two years ago, it was way worse out there in terms of apps, in terms of […] Read more
CP scraps plans to buy Norfolk Southern
Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway said on Monday it had scrapped efforts to buy Norfolk Southern, almost six months after it launched its unsolicited US$28 billion bid for the fourth-largest U.S. railroad operator. The announcement comes days after the U.S. Justice Department urged the Surface Transportation Board to reject a voting trust arrangement CP had […] Read more
U.S. Justice Dept. urges rejection of CP voting trust
Reuters — The U.S. Justice Department on Friday urged a regulator to reject a voting trust Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) has proposed as part of its takeover bid for U.S. railway Norfolk Southern, saying it could hurt competition and would violate rules. In mid-November, CP disclosed a $28 billion offer for the Virginia-based company, which […] Read more
Farm emissions research program renewed
A federal program backing research into farm-level technologies and practices that limit farms’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has been picked up for another five-year run. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Wednesday announced $27 million is budgeted over the 2016-21 period for the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP). More information about criteria for the renewed program […] Read more
Ad Feature: Dust-control firm takes off-road marketing opportunity
Anyone who has driven on a rural road or worked in remote areas where oil, mining, forestry or other development is occurring knows dealing with dust and unstable soils can be annoying — and it can also be a never-ending and costly task. Winnipeg-based Cypher Environmental, run by 34-year-old entrepreneur Todd Burns, has perfected an […] Read more
Ocean freight rate index climbs
CNS Canada — Ocean freight rates have shown some steady strength over the past two months, with the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) back above 400 points. The BDI set a record low of 290 points on Feb. 10-11, but has since posted steady gains, settling at 409 on Tuesday. While that’s still a far cry […] Read more
