Released on September 18, 2003
A new sea-going container facility that will provide improved transportation options for farmers and job opportunities in the Moose Jaw area was officially opened today.Premier Lorne Calvert, Highways and Transportation Minister Mark Wartman and General Manager of CN Jim Vena joined Dory Tuvim, President of the MCS group of companies to celebrate the opening of MCS Agri-Terminals in Moose Jaw today. The $1 million facility will provide freight container and handling services, specializing in moving agricultural products.
"Saskatchewan's reputation as a good place to live, work, and do business is growing every day," Calvert said. "The fact that a world leader in container freight like MCS has chosen to open a facility in Moose Jaw, in Saskatchewan is more evidence that our future is wide open."
Moving commodities by container reduces handling and shipping costs. In addition, containers can also be used to store and segregate specialty crops.
"MCS Agri-Terminals is a unique, new, much needed service to the agricultural industry. Containerization meets the necessary requirements that will secure Canada's continued leadership position in the production and sale of quality food products on the world markets. MCS Agri-Terminals will provide this necessary ingredient," Dory Tuvim said.
Sea-going containers also provide producers with more options in moving their products to market.
"The provincial government has been working in partnership with industry and producers to ensure that farmers have competitive options to move their products to market," Wartman said. "This facility is another example of partnership and innovation working together to improve the transportation system."
"CN is very pleased to be part of this exciting project," CN senior vice-president, Western Canada Region Keith E. Creel said. "By providing the rail component of this container service package, CN is helping prairie farmers develop new ways to access overseas markets. It's a further example of how CN is living up to the commitment it made to the government of Saskatchewan two years ago, when CN undertook to work with prairie farmers, grain companies and other stakeholders to develop new, innovative ways to meet the grain industry's transportation needs."
More information on MCS is available at www.mcscontainers.com. For more information on provincial initiatives to improve grain transportation and logistics, visit the web site at www.highways.gov.sk.ca.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Doug Wakabayashi Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306)787-4805 Email: dwakabayashi@highways.gov.sk.ca Cell: (306)536-9692 | Jim Feeny CN Public Affairs Phone: (780)910-0098 |
Dory Tuvim MCS Agri-Terminals Phone: (306)693-4442 Email: 1-866-MCS-AGRI |