gerryritz

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

The Federal Agriculture Minister says back-to-work legislation for striking CP Rail employees is needed to make sure international buyers continue to see Canada as a preferred supplier.

Gerry Ritz said he's hearing many examples of how the Agriculture sector is being hurt by the rail strike.

"When you talk to High River, the Cargill Plant there, the fresh, frozen product they've started to put a hold on it. They can't have it sitting in refrigerated containers when they know it's not going to move off port," explained Ritz. "We know that there are six boats sitting in Vancouver waiting to be topped off. There are eight more coming in. You start to look at the merge charges and you start to look at a hit to our 'reliable shipper' status."

Legislation forcing striking CP Rail workers back to work means operations on CP Rail lines could return to normal by the weekend.