By Alice McFarlane

Prairie farm leaders ask for an extension on private grade crossings regulation

Dec 1, 2020 | 5:06 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – There is one year left before new mandatory grade crossing requirements must be met.

The federal government has been asked to reconsider its decision for railway companies to impose grade crossings upgrade and maintenance costs on private landowners.

The leaders of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA), and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) have sent a letter to Transport Minister Marc Garneau asking for an extension.

The Grade Crossings Regulations took affect in November 2014. Private landowners who fail to comply with the new regulations and standards will eventually have their grade crossings closed. Those mandatory standards that must be met by Nov. 28, 2021.

APAS President Todd Lewis said it has been the responsibility of the railways to maintain and upgrade the rail network, including grade crossings.

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“Many farmers cross rail lines on a daily basis to get to their homes or fields and they understand the need for safe crossings,” Lewis said. “Their lives and livelihoods depend on it. But we believe that safe rail crossings should be maintained without affecting a farmer’s access to their land and without costs to farmers.”

KAP president Bill Campbell said it may seem like a long way away, but the railways have let six years lapse before starting to take action.

“In Manitoba alone, CN has 735 public crossings and 215 private crossing along with 51 road authorities,” Campbell said. “CP has an even larger network in the province and only started contacting farmers with private rail crossings in March.”

The railways will have to locate all crossing owners and enter into agreements with them. The owners, including farmers, may need to perform upgrades and take on ongoing maintenance costs.

AFA president Lynn Jacobson said CP has started to contact farmers in southern Alberta as well.

“From the bills that we have seen so far, farmers could be expected to pay tens of thousands of dollars depending on the work that has to be done,” Jacobson said. “That work and extra cost, especially during a pandemic, creates additional uncertainty and pressure with a looming deadline.”

The farm leaders want the federal government to reconsider its decision and extend the 2021 deadline.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF