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

BECK PLEDGES BETTER WAGES, LOWER COST OF LIVING TO RETAIL WORKERS

Leader Delivers Address At Convention In Humboldt, Calls Workers The ‘Backbone Of Saskatchewan Economy’

HUMBOLDT - Carla Beck told delegates at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Convention Wednesday that they “deserve a damn raise” a government laser-focused on making life more affordable in Saskatchewan, and that a Saskatchewan NDP government would put working people first by strengthening labour rights, raising wages and tackling the rising cost of living.

SCOTT MOE’S MLAS BLOCKS EFFORTS TO GET TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE $26 BILLION COAL CATASTROPHE

Sask. Party Blocks Motion Calling for Provincial Auditor Investigation Into Coal Cost Overruns — Ten Times What Was Publicly Reported

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe and the Sask. Party for once again refusing to come clean about their $26-billion coal catastrophe after government members blocked a motion Thursday at the Public Accounts Committee requesting an independent investigation by the Provincial Auditor.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM CALLS FOR HALT TO CHILDCARE FUNDING CHANGE THAT WILL HAMMER RURAL COMMUNITIES, PUT PARENTS OUT OF WORK

In One Month, Funding Will Be Cut For Children Attending Childcare Part-Time, Or As Casuals
REGINA – Carla Beck and her team are joining rural childcare advocates to call on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to fix their broken childcare deal.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM DEMANDS ACTION TO MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, CRACKDOWN ON GANGS IN WAKE OF SHOOTINGS IN NORTH

Pelican Narrows Community Leaders Have Been Beggin Scott Moe For Support For Years

SASKATOON – Days after the tragic events in Pelican Narrows and Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Carla Beck’s team is demanding that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party stop ignoring the needs of Northern Saskatchewan and step up to support the communities dealing with a flood of poisonous drugs, rampant gang activity and constant crime.

NDP Caucus Office