Ottawa Ontario - The feds have introduced a new bill to get backlogged grain shipments moving to ports for export.
 
Bill C-30 formalizes an order issued earlier this month to both Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) to ship at least 500,000 metric tonnes each of grain weekly.
 
"This the tonnage commitment made by CN and CP that will move grain in an efficient manner while not hampering movement of other commodities," Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said.
 
The bill includes a maximum $100,000 penalty for shippers that don't comply.
 
It also sets up a system for negotiating compensation for grain growers when shippers don't live up to their commitments, and it expands the access grain elevators have to rail transport, possibly bringing in some American competition for CN and CP.
 
Ritz said the bill will help "secure Canada's reputation as a world-class exporter."
 
"Agriculture is vital business in this country, and a driver of one in eight jobs throughout the Canadian economy," he said.
 
The NDP's Malcolm Allen said he's skeptical of the Conservatives' plan.
 
"I don't see anything from the railroaders saying that they intend to make any major investments of locomotives, because that's really what's missing in the system," he said.
 
Prairie grain growers had a bumper crop this year, but this winter's extreme cold forced rail companies to shorten their trains and make fewer grain cars available.
 
Federal officials estimate there is up to $20 billion worth of grain sitting in bins in Canada now waiting for transport.

Daniel Proussalidis.