Photo by Curtis Galbraith/Everything GP Staff

By Erika Rolling

Rail Strike

Grain producers greatly affected by rail strike

Aug 21, 2024 | 12:24 PM

The impacts of the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kanas City strike has already started.

The union representing thousands of workers have locked out workers and called strike Thursday morning, as contract deals were not reached with Teamsters Canada Rail Conference before the midnight deadline.

Grain producers are among those heavily affected by this ongoing dispute.

Grain Growers of Canada Chair and Valhalla producer, Andre Harpe says the impacts already started last week.

“I’ve already talked to a couple of the elevators, and they were not taking deliveries, so it’s already affecting things.”

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Harpe notes there isn’t other viable ways to transport grain from the Peace Country.

He says he’s heard over 10,000 to 15,000 semi-trucks would be needed to even think about replacing rail transport.

“It’s just not logistically possible to move our product in any other way.”

“The railway is a necessary part of our economy.”

Harpe says 95 per cent of crops grown in the northern regions have to make it’s way to seaports in Vancouver or Prince Rupert in B.C, by rail.

He says with the work stoppage, it’ll only get worse for everybody, especially our region relying heavily on rail to transport goods.