I know CN is trying to get an exemption, and I think Jason has been in touch with Transport Canada.

I understand that at public crossings, there may be 100 cars per minute, but on the farm, there might be five or 10 crossings per year. Obviously, the level of safety doesn't need to be the same. Blowing a whistle might suffice to know that there's a train coming.

Obviously, $600,000 to $2 million is completely unacceptable to be farmed out to the farmer, so thanks for coming here. We're trying to find a reasonable solution, because, again, the invoice doesn't work.

With regard to interswitching, the only way we can change interswitching is through a legislative change. For six weeks now, nothing has moved in the House. My plea to you is to call your local members. I don't want to make this partisan, but you can say that we've heard all the MPs who spoke on SDTC and that we've heard them loud and clear. We have to get back to the business of the House, because if we don't have enough time to legislate interswitching, there will be a gap after March. I'm trying to reduce that gap. If we don't get it through the fall economic statement, then we're stuck. The Minister of Transport will have to go to the House leader and present a bill. That requires time, and time is extremely sacred in the House. My plea to you is to send letters.

My second plea to you is also on interswitching. I haven't heard from you guys about whether interswitching works well, but that's good news. I only hear when it doesn't work well. I would urge you and your organizations to send a letter to the Minister of Transport to say why interswitching has worked well for you, because you can be sure that the other side is definitely sending letters as to why they shouldn't extend interswitching. That's my advice to you.

Mr. Youzwa, you mentioned in your opening remarks that interswitching has worked well. Can you explain to this committee why? You're talking to shippers. You're talking to farmers. Ever since this has been implemented, you have seen a better service from rail service. Is that right?

Francis Drouin

$466,140.00