Bill C-49, also known as the Transportation Modernization Act, contains provisions which will ensure long-term solutions to grain transportation problems, but it still hasn't received Senate approval.

Canada's Agriculture Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, addressed the current grain backlog in Western Canada earlier this week at a news conference in Calgary.

Minister MacAulay says, he's been in contact with the rail companies a number of times.

"Is everything fixed? No, but what we want to make sure is we put a system in place. What we want to do number one, is get the Bill passed through the Senate and that the Government of Canada and the railways invest in the transportation system. Agriculture and other products have to move."

MacAulay was asked, why an Order-In-Council has not been put in place as a temporary measure while the grain industry waits for Bill C-49 to pass.

His response didn't seem to have an answer.

"What we're doing is making sure that the railways understand they have a responsibility, but also I do understand that farmers can have a difficulty in the financial area too, and we're doing everything with Farm Credit Canada to make sure that this will not be a problem, that they're able to evaluate the situation and have the funding available if it should be needed. What we want to make sure, number one, as the farmers are coming close to seeding time that they are comfortable and are going to be able to put the crop in."

He says, Bill C-49 was put in place because of the grain issue and adds the review took place a year or so earlier because of the grain industry.

MacAulay says they are working very hard to ensure the Senate passes the Bill, and then they'll enact the legislation to put the proper transportation in place.

At the news conference, MacAulay alongside Alberta's Ag Minister, Oneil Carlier, announced $406 million will be invested in Alberta agriculture through the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

MacAulay took questions from the media at the end of the announcement where he addressed the grain backlog.