Since the release of the Estey Report, The NFU has pointed out that most of its major recommendations are extremely damaging to farmers. Estey recommended:

• The end of the rate cap. This would lead to sharp freight rate increases.
  
  
• The end of the CWB's transportation role. This would lower farmers returns, end delivery equity, and reduce farmers' power in the transportation system-The CWB was instrumental in recovering millions of dollars for farmers from the railways when they failed to move grain during the winter of 1996-97.
  
  
• The elimination of cooperative hopper car allocation through CAPG. This would deprive farmers of a voice in car allocation and increase farmer's costs by moving to an American-style allocation system.
  
  
• Selling government hopper cars to the highest bidder. Farmer ownership of hopper cars would give them a voice in the system.

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