Sask., Alta. push to toughen grain handling legislation

March 18, 2014, Regina – Saskatchewan and Alberta are calling for
tougher federal laws for the grain transportation system after a bottleneck
that has left crops sitting in bins across the Prairies.

March 18, 2014, Regina – Saskatchewan and Alberta are calling for
tougher federal laws for the grain transportation system after a bottleneck
that has left crops sitting in bins across the Prairies.

An emergency order earlier this month from
the federal government set minimum targets for railways of 11,000 cars a week
and fines of up to $100,000 per day for failing to meet those targets.

Russia's state gas producer Gazprom has
warned Ukraine that it may increase the gas price for Kiev after the first
quarter. It insists Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine is normal but for
how long? Joanna Partridge looks at the impact of the Ukraine crisis on energy
and other key commodities.

But Saskatchewan says upcoming federal
legislation should set a minimum of 13,000 grain cars per week and bump up the
penalty to $250,000 per day.

Saskatchewan and Alberta both say money
collected should benefit the farmers instead of landing in the federal coffers. 

Alberta also says there should be increased
rail-track access so grain shippers can receive competitive service from more
than one rail company.

The legislation is expected to be tabled
when Parliament returns next week.