Cramer Discusses Rail Issues with Canadian Member of Parliament

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer met yesterday with Canadian Member of Parliament Rob Merrifield to discuss rail transportation issues including grain shipment delays on Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). Cramer sent a letter to Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer expressing concerns about the recent performance standard mandate imposed on CP. The Canadian government has moved to enforce penalties against CP for failure to make timely shipments for its domestic customers.

"Although I empathize with the struggles of your producers during this trying winter, my worry is these mandates will be met at the detriment of CP's American customers, specifically, the many farmers and grain elevators in North Dakota that rely upon CP to provide timely service," Cramer wrote to Doer before meeting with him in Bismarck last month.

In his meeting with Merrifield and a representative of the Canadian Embassy, Cramer discussed concerns from North Dakota agriculture producers on the worsening delays and the financial impact on their operations. Cramer continues to update the public on the situation by regularly releasing new figures from BNSF Railway.

Merrifield also attended yesterday's meeting of the Northern Border Caucus, which Cramer co-chairs.

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