STATEMENT: CANADIAN RAILWAYS SUPPORT SENATOR DAGENAIS’ BILL S-287 TO REPEAL EXTENDED INTERSWITCHING

OTTAWA, June 26, 2024 – Canada’s railways commend Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais for introducing Bill S-287 to repeal extended regulated interswitching and support Canadian railroaders and investments in Canadian supply chains.

Extended interswitching drives jobs and investment to the U.S. and raises costs for Canadian consumers in the process. It does not create a single new competitive option for railway shippers.

Every carload of freight interchanged to a U.S. railway under extended interswitching means less work for Canadian workers. It is difficult to imagine the U.S. or any other country disadvantaging their own companies and workers in this manner.

Canada needs policies that incentivize investment in our supply chains, not chase it away.

The Canadian freight rail system is world class by any measure. Canadian shippers benefit from some of the lowest rail freight rates globally. Let’s build on this success and leave failed policies in the past.

Canadian railways stand with Senator Dagenais, rail unions, transportation experts, industry leaders, think tanks, and others who advised against implementing extended interswitching.

We are calling on all parliamentarians to support the swift passage of Bill S-287.