Saskatoon Saskatchewan - CP (Canadian Pacific Railway) is launching a new scorecard which it says will review the company's performance for the previous week.
 
The scorecard will also include, when necessary, detailed information on internal or external factors affecting grain movement.
 
"If our assets aren't turning the way they should, then we will take our lumps," says Marty Cej, assistant vice-president of public affairs and communications with CP.
 
"But there are also situations where an elevator has to close because it's snowed in, where a port has to close because of terrible weather on the west coast. Those are components that every stakeholder on the supply chain and everybody involved in this industry should be aware to better understand why things might have slowed down."
 
By the same token, Cej says if the system is working well, all of the stakeholders will be able to see just how efficient things are and perhaps learn some lessons that can be applied in future grain seasons.
 
Railway performance has been tracked by the Ag Transport Coalition following the massive grain backlogs during the winter of 2013-2014.
 
The Ag Transport Coalition membership includes grain companies and several producer based commodity organizations.
 
The president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan supports the move.
 
However, Norm Hall is disappointed that it took a Canadian Transportion Act review to prompt the decision.
 
"Now, it will be really, really, interesting to see how their scorecard scores them compared to what the Ag Transport Coalition reports are scoring them at and see if they are close. Of course, when one is scoring themselves, it's as we say in the card playing game, it's a poor scorekeeper that can't win the game. So, we'll just have to see how they score themselves."
 
Grain transportation will be on the agenda this Thursday in Saskatoon when leaders of various farm organizations meet with federal transport minister Marc Garneau.
 
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