national
farmers union
national
farmers union
SASKATOON, Sask.-Farmers, municipal officials, and other citizens near CN's Arborfield (Zenon Park, Arborfield) and Chelan (Bjorkdale, Porcupine Plain, Somme, Weekes) rail subdivisions have been attempting to buy those lines since CN announced its intention to abandon the lines. Recent news reports revealed that CN's refusal to negotiate key aspects of the sale forced residents to withdraw their offer and give up their plans to buy the lines in July.
CN refused to negotiate the sale of the Arborfield subdivision as a package with the nearby Chelan subdivision. CN refused to negotiate a critical revenue sharing agreement until the sale of the track was finalized. And it refused to negotiate the use of a key 50 foot long piece of track important to the viability of the proposed shortline.
The Mayor of Porcupine Plain, Carl Kwiatkowski, reported that CN blocked the community-based initiative and left area residents disillusioned and extremely disappointed. Purchase of the lines without a satisfactory operating agreement might have forced the municipalities to tear up the tracks and sell the rails for salvage.
NFU Women's President Shannon Storey noted that the failure of the community shortline initiative is just the latest example of CN and CP's refusal to negotiate with farmers or communities. "Railway reps sat in the Kroeger talks and refused to negotiate key issues such as open access or final offer arbitration. These same railways refuse to negotiate in good faith with communities willing to buy and operate branchlines. Yet these railways want farmers to accept a deregulated grain transportation system where rates and service will be negotiated," said Storey.
Storey observed that railways can get away with refusing to negotiate because they have immense market power. "Unless that market power is constrained and counterweighted by effective legislation and farmer participation in the grain transportation system, farmers will face higher costs and diminished service. Unless the government gets serious about branchline retention and shortline creation, Saskatchewan citizens will face the loss of our branchline network, the loss of rural communities, and the destruction of our roads and highways," she said.
Storey concluded: "Believing that the railways will 'do the right thing' when it comes to creating shortlines is extremely naive. Railways have clearly demonstrated that they are unwilling to negotiate a cooperative solution. It is now up to government to legislate a solution which protects farmers and the public interest."
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