SASKATCHEWAN NDP CALLS FOR BETTER SUPPORTS FOR SHORT-LINE RAIL

RICHARDSON — Today, Saskatchewan NDP Leader and Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Carla Beck called for better supports for short-line railways as she began her first of a series of short-line rail tours this summer.

“Short-line railways play a vital role in moving agricultural products in our province,” said Beck.

“Focusing on the future means investing in trade enabling infrastructure like short line rail. We need to support investments in our short-line rail system to ensure it’s running at full capacity.”

Beck called for the province to increase the provincial grants provided to short-line railways in Saskatchewan and develop a long-term strategy for building out short-line rail capacity.

She also called on the federal and provincial governments to work together to support expanding short-line rail as vital trade-enabling infrastructure.

“We need to make sure we can get our world-class products to markets, and that means we need to support major investments in pipelines, rail lines, and power lines,” said Shadow Minister for Highways and Infrastructure Hugh Gordon.

“Supporting short-line rail means supporting good jobs and strong rural communities.”

"The short-line industry has many challenges – infrastructure growth, maintenance costs, property taxation – but it’s becoming more important to the network within the network, to provide an option to complement our class 1 partners on first and last mile service,” said Glenn Pohl, Senior Railway Specialist with Xpert Railway Consulting.

“Our supply chain will flourish with the growth of short lines, interprovincial utilization, and industrial partners. Our supply chain needs us more than ever and we are here ready to grow and serve those needs.”

-30-

Latest posts

CARLA BECK’S TEAM RAISES MAJOR CONCERNS OVER POTENTIAL SALE OF INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION

Sale Could Drive Up Costs for Land Sales, Real Estate Transactions
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is raising major concerns ahead of legislation that will potentially pave the way for the sale of Information Services Corporation (ISC) to a private owner.

SCOTT MOE SHOULD GREENLIGHT IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION REQUIRING REAL-TIME REPORTING OF EMERGENCY ROOM CLOSURES

Critical Bill From Beck’s Team Passed Key Hurdle Last Week
REGINA — Today, in Question Period, Carla Beck’s team will call on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to immediately pass legislation requiring lifesaving real-time reporting of emergency room closures.

BECK’S TEAM LAYS OUT HOW GRID AND GROWTH PLAN WILL MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE, DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR YORKTON

Scott Moe’s Plan Is Costliest, Riskiest & Will Double Power Bills
YORKTON – Families and businesses in Yorkton will benefit from a more affordable and reliable energy future under Carla Beck’s Grid and Growth Plan.

PASSING BILL BY BECK’S TEAM TO REQUIRE REAL-TIME ER CLOSURE REPORTING CRITICAL FOR MOE’S RIDING, PRINCE ALBERT, NORTH

Moe Supported Legislation From Rural & Remote Health Shadow Minister Jared Clarke At Second Reading
PRINCE ALBERT — Legislation from Carla Beck’s team that cleared a major hurdle last week is critical to addressing the healthcare crisis in rural communities, in Saskatchewan’s North, even in Scott Moe’s own riding.