Railway Service Announcement Is Important Step Forward

OTTAWA, March 18, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian fertilizer industry is encouraged by today's commitment by the federal government to improve railway service, which is an important step to ensuring that farmers and businesses get the service they are paying for.

Today, Ministers Rob Merrifield and Gerry Ritz announced that the Canadian Government will require railways to establish a process to settle commercial disagreements over the delivery of their service commitments.

This announcement adopts key elements of the railway service solution that the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) has been advocating for a number of years. CFI has been a champion of commercial solutions and has developed a Railway Customer Charter that would guarantee shippers essential rights.

"The federal government has taken an important step towards balancing the commercial relationships between railways and their freight customers," said Roger Larson, President of the Canadian Fertilizer Institute. "Fertilizer companies have commitments to their customers in Canada, the United States and around the world. Railway service cannot be allowed to continue to be the weak link in Canada's export pipeline."

CFI recognizes there have been some recent improvements. CFI looks forward to building stronger commercial partnerships with the railways so farmers can be assured that they will get the fertilizer they need in time for each growing season.

"We urge farmers, shippers, the railways, and members of all political parties to support the Government's approach. This is about the future of the Canadian economy," said Larson.

For more information on CFI's railway customer charter see www.cfi.ca

The Canadian Fertilizer Institute

The Canadian Fertilizer Institute is an industry association representing manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. Our mission is to be the unified voice of the Canadian fertilizer industry by promoting the responsible, sustainable and safe production, distribution and use of fertilizers. Our industry employs 12,000 Canadians and contributes $12 billion annually to Canada's economy. Our products contribute to the supply of safe, nutritious food in Canada and around the world.