Freight train near Jasper, Alberta. (Photo 37235566 © Serjio74 | Dreamstime.com)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Strike Impact

Concerns over how long delays will be for transporting crops after B.C. port strike

Aug 9, 2023 | 1:48 PM

The end of the B.C. port strike is good news for farmers across Western Canada, but there are still concerns about what the overall impact will be on transporting crops.

Delays are all but certain as cargo both leaving and entering the country was piled up over a 13-day stretch.

Jim Smolik, who oversees stakeholder relations for the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, told farmnewsNOW there’s been little to no impact on transporting crops as harvest is in the early stages.

However, he believes there will be in the near future as crews focus on the shipments that have already been delayed.

“We’re not really aware of all of the impacts, as far as the delays in unloading, but every day there’s a delay it adds extra days of delay to each container vessel,” he said.

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In Smolik’s opinion, there’s a chance it won’t be resolved until sometime during the fall.

However, one group believes it may be a bit longer before that happens. In Canada Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) grain service outlook report for 2023/24, they suggest that supply chain recovery will stretch into 2024.

“If they’re projecting that, that’s going to be a very significant worry, especially for guys with pulses. There are specific times when pulses tend to trade and it’s generally right after harvest,” Smolik said.

Because of this, he and the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association want the federal government to step up in any way. At this time, they’re surprised there have been no comments from Pablo Rodriguez, the federal minister of transport.

“We were kind of hoping he would be out front and center on this ensuring or making sure that he portrays the message that he’ll have this cleaned up as soon as possible,” added Smolik.

Meanwhile, there are concerns about the federal government’s plan to scrap replacement workers by the end of 2023.

CPKC believes this would lead to more frequent and longer labour disruptions at railways and ports.

Smolik noted the issue is something the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is keeping an eye on but at this time they don’t intend to way in too much at this point of time.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow