Focus

Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition (WCSC) provides government with a one-window approach to engage in meaningful dialogue with multiple commodity sectors. Our members discuss and share perspectives and ideas on important transportation issues related to rail, port/terminals and trucking, and develop clear positions and messages to take to government.

Current Focus

  • Members’ issues and concerns regarding rail, ports/terminals and trucking including the current infrastructure, network capacity and long-term viability of the supply chain, specifically:
    • Bringing strategic investments into the first/last mile, removing congestion, bottlenecks, system changes, infrastructure spending, commodity supply chains, visibility project
    • Recommending a third-party Canadian trade corridor capacity review
    • Monitoring service challenges in western Canada throughout all commodity groups with a focus on seasonal fluctuations.
  • Follow-up resulting from WCSC’s participation in the 2015 review of the Canadian Transportation Actled by David Emerson, and subsequent consultations initiated by Minister Garneau and the House of Commons’ Senate. Relevant documents include:
  • Follow-up initiatives – Bill C-49: Transportation Modernization Act. Bill C-49 passed on May 23, 2018. WCSC continues to represent members on follow-up initiatives, including:
    • Making a submission to Transport Canada on Bill C-49 Regulations and Guidance Materials and meeting with the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) in this regard
    • Participating in Transport Canada’s Commodity Supply Chain Table (CSCT) meetings
    • Participating in Transport Canada’s Forward Planning consultation initiative
    • Responding to Transport Canada’s request for feedback on its Railway Performance and Service Data Reporting consultation
    • Participating in the government’s consultation process relating to regulations governing the submission and publication of railway financial and operational data.
    • Continuing discussions with the Agency regarding shipper protection mechanisms; and take a lead role representing members on NRCan’s new transportation initiative.
    • Engaging and providing feedback to Transport Canada and the Canadian Transportation Agency regarding Railway Capital Structure, Regulatory Railway Costing Model(s) and Regulatory Modernization Initiatives(s).
  • Consultation on methodology for determining CN’s and CP’s Capital Structure under the Maximum Revenue Entitlement Program. In response to the Canadian Transportation Agency’s call for interested parties’ views on the methodology for determining the capital structure of Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) for the determination of the cost of capital of the two Railway Companies, WCSC and the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) made a joint submission.

Accomplishments

  • Actively representing WCSC members with all levels of government regarding key transportation issues and concerns related to rail, ports/terminals and trucking.
  • Membership base increased to include 18 companies representing a diverse group of commodities (aggregate, asphalt, cement, concrete, coal, fly ash, forestry, petroleum, potash and sulphur).
  • Initiating a new Associate Membership Program effective January 1, 2020 to include non-shipper contributors to the supply chain industry. 
  • Developed a Strategic Partnership in 2015) with Pulse Canada to collaborate on transportation issues of mutual interest.
  • Successfully developed relationships with key department and agency personnel to provide government with a one-window approach to engage in meaningful dialogue with multiple commodity sectors.
  • Invited by the federal government to remain actively involved in its  follow up to Bill C-49 through the Commodity Supply Chain Table and Collaborative Forward Planning – Phase 3 initiatives.