Alberta Canola is very concerned about the labour stoppage at Canadian National Railway and the detrimental impact it will have on farmers and jobs in Alberta. Alberta Canola Chair John Guelly has written the Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour urging her to do whatever it takes to end labour disruption.
“Any disruption in rail service will have an immediate detrimental effect on the canola industry’s ability to supply the majority of its customers” says Guelly, who is attending an Alberta Canola grower meeting in Vermilion, Alberta today. “The harvest isn’t done in some parts of Alberta and farmers can’t afford to have grain elevators and crushing plants shutdown due to rail backlogs. It could be devasting to some. The Government of Canada has to move on this.”
This strike will result in canola backing up in some elevators and crush plants, adding to Alberta farmers’ grain handling costs and affecting their ability to manage cash flow. A strike will have devastating impacts to the greater Canadian economy as well. The Canadian canola industry annually contributes $26.7 billion to the Canadian economy and accounts for 250,000 Canadian jobs.
Source: Alberta Canola
