Sask. NDP calls for more short-line rail investment to reduce dependence on the U.S.

The Sask. NDP says it would like to see more investment into short-line rail, with Leader Carla Beck saying it was important to build domestic trade infrastructure, especially as Canada faces U.S. tariffs.

Beck said the move would help reduce Canadian dependence on the U.S.

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“In 2017 the amount that the province provided to short-line rail was $1 million. This last budget year, that amount was still $1 million,” Beck said.

She added that there were eight short-line railway companies operating in Saskatchewan in 2017, but now there are 13.

“As you can imagine, everything from the price of rail ties to labour to fuel, all of those have only increased — and not making this investment in short-line rail is refusing to make good on the opportunity to (invest) in small communities right across this province,” Beck said.

Beck also said an investment in short-line rail would be beneficial, especially with upcoming projects like the Jansen Potash Mine opening in 2026. The mine would provide an additional 8.5 million tons to be shipped.

“This is a good problem to have … if we’re looking at critical minerals, if we’re looking at exploration right across this province, that is fantastic,” Beck said.

“But in order for us to be able to make good on the opportunity that is there, we have to be able to get that product to market.”

Glenn Pohl, senior railway consultant with Xpert Rail Consulting, said short-line rail is an alternative to Class 1 railways.

“We are the first mile and last mile of the operation. So our job is to put producer car agricultural products like fertilizer (in a) spot where they can load and unload and get that product to a market without having to go to … big companies,” Pohl said.

“It also feeds all these small communities with jobs, infrastructure money is flowing in here and out of here all the time. We take some of the burden off the highways — it’s two and a half truckloads per railcar. And when you look at a railcar going down the track, you see lots of them … the offsets are huge.”

The Government of Saskatchewan said it is investing $1 million toward maintaining and improving short line railway infrastructure through the Short Line Railway Improvement Program (SRIP).

In an emailed statement, it said this would be done under a cost-sharing program with an increase of $470,000 (88 per cent) compared to last year’s budget of $530,000.

“This provincial investment increase of 88 per cent over last year’s budget is recognition by the Government of Saskatchewan of short-line railways and the role supporting our export-based economy,” the government said on Friday.

“As the SRIP is a 50-50 cost-sharing program between the provincial government ($1 million) and privately-owned short lines ($1 million) for eligible projects, the total short-line rail infrastructure investment will be up to $2 million this year under this program.”

The government added that it is open to working with the Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association and other levels of government to examine options on enhancing the SRIP.

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