Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada’s big railways are pressing Ottawa to loosen rules around hauling the country’s crops — changes they say would improve efficiency but that farmers fear would weaken their bargaining power. A February report recommended that Ottawa institutes transportation system changes, including phasing out a 16-year-old cap on revenue that Canadian National […] Read more
Railways urge Ottawa to loosen grain hauling rules
Viterra plans new elevator in eastern Saskatchewan
Glencore’s Prairie grain handling arm Viterra plans to boost its throughput capacity in east-central Saskatchewan with a new elevator at Wadena. Wadena, served by both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways (CN, CP), already has a smaller Viterra elevator on each line. The two former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevators have capacity for 5,020 and 4,000 […] Read more
U.S. activist investor Ackman leaves CP board
Bill Ackman, the U.S. activist investor who usurped the leadership of Canadian Pacific Railway in 2012, is leaving the Calgary company’s board after his hedge fund sold off its remaining stake last month. Ackman, who heads New York-based Pershing Square Capital Management, joined CP’s board in 2012 and served on its finance and corporate governance […] Read more
Railways asking industry to all pull together
To move the coming big crop efficiently will require better co-operation throughout the supply chain, say railway execs
Reading Time: 3 minutes With memories of the grain-handling chaos of 2014 still fresh and another large Prairie crop looming, the railways are calling for greater collaboration in moving this year’s harvest. “To ensure success during this crop year, the broader supply chain must work together to collectively harness our energy so that the entire Canadian economy can reap […] Read more
Ackman exits CP, freeing up cash for next bet
Boston/Montreal | Reuters — Billionaire U.S. investor William Ackman has exited his hedge fund’s investment in Canadian Pacific Railway, freeing up roughly US$1.5 billion in cash to make other future investments. Pershing Square Capital Management and CP on Wednesday said the New York-based hedge fund had sold its remaining 9.8 million shares in the Canadian […] Read more
CP, Teamsters dispute railway’s staffing obligations
Canadian Pacific Railway is refuting claims from one of its employees’ unions that the company is in “violation of the law” over layoffs of track maintenance staff. Calgary-based CP last month announced temporary layoffs effective June 30 affecting about 500 maintenance-of-way crew positions. On Tuesday it cited “business ebbs and flows associated with global markets […] Read more
CP offers assurances for 2016-17 grain handle
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) says it’s ready and willing to move a bumper Prairie crop in 2016-17. “Operationally, CP is eager and prepared to move grain this coming crop year,” company CEO Hunter Harrison said in a letter to federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau. The letter, dated Tuesday, was also circulated to Prairie transportation and […] Read more
CP lays off 500 workers, cites softening demand
CNS Canada — Select maintenance workers at Canadian Pacific Railway will be laid off effective Thursday as the railway’s revenue is expected to plummet in the second quarter. Lower volumes are one reason given for declining profits, though grain movement this crop year is ahead of average. Earlier this month, 500 CP maintenance workers were […] Read more
Cost index for railways’ grain revenue cap gets boost
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
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
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