Grain movement and rail transportation was the focus of discussion yesterday in Saskatoon.

About 19 different farm groups met with Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

Garneau gave some incite into the meeting.

"We heard very clearly from the different people that were in the room, what are their concerns, what are their hopes and aspirations with respect to an industry that is growing, because the grain industry is going to continue to grow in the years to come and this is important for Canada. It was very important for us to hear them as part of our consoltation process," he said.

Garneau says ultimately their aim is to have the most efficient transportation system possible so we can move grain, potash, and lumber efficiently out to ports or south to the United States.

Minister Garneau wrapped things up saying it was a very useful meeting and they spoke with one voice.

"The voice was that they have a product, they want to get it to market, they want to get it efficently to market in a timely way. They realize as we do that their livelyhoods depend on it, also thier reputations as well," Garneau said.   

He noted a key part of the discussion for many groups centered around the issue of maximum revenue entitlements.


Prior to the roundtable, the two federal ministers met with Saskatchewan and Manitoba Agriculture Ministers.