Canada declines to renew grain-transport order for CN, CP

Canadian government officials decided late last week not to renew the government's requirement for CN and Canadian Pacific to transport minimum volumes of grain by rail. The order expired March 28.

Introduced in March 2014, the volume requirements were designed to spur movement of the remainder of last year's crop along with this year's crop, and ensure that the grain supply chain returned to normal operations.

As a result of the order, grain exports have improved and the projected carry-out going into this new crop year is within the average range historically, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a press release.

Mandatory volume requirements continue to be an option if the grain supply chain again becomes a problem for farmers and shippers, they said.

The government also announced that more grain monitoring statistics are available on the Grain Monitor's website.