January 21, 2014 - 10:03 AM
WINNIPEG - Ottawa is putting up money for a transportation study to find ways of tackling huge backlogs in grain shipments.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says a bumper crop last year has posed some serious challenges.
He says big crops are the — quote — "new normal" and Canada's economy depends on a reliable way of getting them to market.
Ritz says the federal government is providing $1.5 million to help study the problem and come up with solutions.
Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, says Canada's reputation as a reliable source of grain is tarnished by the backlogs and serious improvements are needed.
The backlog has left some farmers wondering what good a bumper crop is if they aren't able to get it to market.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014