Conservatives Demand Budget Action from Carney Government to Restore Rail Competition and Support Farmers
Ottawa, ON — Conservative Members of Parliament are calling on the Carney Government to immediately bring back the Prairie interswitching pilot, make it permanent, and expand it to adjacent regions that were left out of the original program.
This proven policy would give farmers, shippers, and resource developers the competitive leverage they need to access fair rail service and escape rail captivity, especially as they face mounting pressures from global trade barriers.
The policy would reestablish regulated interswitching up to 160 kilometres, previously allowed under a successful pilot program, and extend its reach to resource development corridors without passenger rail service. This would give captive shippers the “walk away” power to seek better rates and service from competing rail providers.
“Interswitching is a proven tool to inject competition into Canada’s rail system,” said John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture. “Farmers, especially those already hit hard by Chinese tariffs, deserve a break. Giving them the ability to walk away from unfair rail rates is a practical way to support our agricultural producers and strengthen Canada’s supply chains.”
The previous Prairie interswitching pilot, introduced by the Conservative Government in 2014, successfully extended regulated interswitching from 30 km to 160 km, helping grain producers and other shippers overcome rail captivity. The Liberals allowed the pilot to expire in March 2025 after proroguing Parliament and triggering an election, leaving many rural and resource-based regions without meaningful competitive access.
“With a stroke of a pen, Mark Carney and his Finance Minister could bring back the Prairie interswitching pilot, make it permanent, and expand it to adjacent regions that have long been overlooked,” said Dan Albas, Conservative Shadow Minister for Transportation. “If the Carney Government is serious about standing up to the Communist government in Beijing, they should start by cancelling the $1 billion Infrastructure Bank loan for Chinese-built ferries and instead give Canadian farmers a real boost by restoring rail competition. This isn’t a complicated fix. It’s a low-cost, high-impact solution that would give farmers and resource producers the leverage they need to walk away from unfair rail rates and demand better service.”