Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau is in Saskatoon today meeting with a select number of farm groups.

It’s an opportunity for producers to give their thoughts on the Report coming out of the Canada Transportation Act Review.

APAS President Norm Hall says farm groups lobbied hard for the meeting and an opportunity to discuss their views on the railways and grain movement.

“We will be talking about the issues around the report on the transportation review and the message that we want to go forward such as a costing review for Maximum Revenue Entitlement, as well convincing the minister the maximum revenue entitlement needs to stay in place,” he said.

Hall notes that keeping the MRE in place is vital moving forward.

“A study shows that if we lose the MRE, we could see freight rates increase from 25 to 30 percent and that would cost prairie producers $300-400 million extra per year,” he said.

Also taking part in the discussion with the Transport Minister will be the Keystone Ag Producers, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture as well as other groups.

During his visit, Garneau will also meet with Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart.