Sub-series consists of Exempt staff operational files. The files are arranged in alphabetical order by the exempt staff's surname. The operational files are arranged in alphabetical order: Doug Rimmer, Special Assistant, 1979-1986, Vols. 55-63; Melody Tomka, Special Assistant, 1979-1986, Vols. 64-71.
Doug Rimmer was the Minister's Special Assistant. He dealt with major grain and transportation issues. The following description of Rimmer files is divided into three parts: Working files - grain; Transportation; Briefing memoranda; Outgoing correspondence.
Part one of Rimmer files entitled Working files - grain, transportation consists of Rimmer's working files and some belonging to the Minister pertaining to grain and transportation matters; Rimmer's and Minister's incoming-outgoing correspondence with various transportation, grain associations and committees; Correspondence from J. McDonough, Senior Commissioner of the Canadian Transportation Committee; Briefing memos from Departmental staff; Briefing memoranda from Deputy Minister; Briefing books; Memoranda from exempt staff; Memoranda from Minister to M.P.s of British Columbia; Briefing memoranda from Rimmer to the Minister; Rimmer's handwritten notes, working documents and personal work notes; Work files on various railway Branch Lines; Canadian Transport Commission Statuary Reports; Agendas of meetings with Prairie Pool Presidents; Feasibility studies and polls; reports of Western Rail Lines; Minister's speeches; Speeches from various individuals relating to Grain issues; Excerpts of Hansards documenting the Minister's responses on Grain issues; Agendas for Grain Group meetings; Memoranda to Cabinet; Notes for Standing Committee on Bill C-44; Questions and answers for the House of Commons Question period; News releases; Clippings; Cover notes and routing slips attached to various documents from and to Rimmer from exempt staff, Minister and departmental staff containing instructions and queries.
The issues documented in the working files are: Grain Issues Western Grain Transportation Act (WGTA)-Bill C-44; Bill C-155; Branchline abandonment; Branchline Rehabilitation; Cost rates for transporting grain; CROW speeches; Grain groups; Grain Transportation Agency (GTA); Grain workers; International situations of Grain markets; Legislative review of Grain Acts; Liberals advertising concerning grain issues; Minimum Compensatory rates; Progressive Conservative comments and position statements; Grain Pools; Prince Rupert; Producer organizations; Grain rates and transportation; Senior Grain Transportation Committee (SGTC); System Improvement Reserve (SIR); Tally adjustment; Western Barley Growers (WBGA). Transportation Issues documented are Air India disaster; Air Ticket Tax; Transportation Policy; Can Rail; Dangerous goods Rail safety; Emissions standards; Northern Transportation Co. Ltd; Transportation Policy papers; Policy development; Via and West Coast fishing casualties.
Part two of the Rimmer files entitled Briefing memornada, consists of copies of briefing memoranda (BMs) 1985-1986, prepared by Rimmer for the Minister's, Deputy Minister's and Departmental staff's attention; Bms prepared by the Minister for the Prime Minister and Transport Deputy Minister; Bms prepared by various Departmental Staff members for Rimmer.
Some of the issues documented in the briefing memoranda during 1985 are: Transportation issues at upcoming Priorities and Planning meetings; Indian Women issues; Motor Vehicle Emission Standards (MVES); Amendment to Seed Act; Western Grain Transportation Rate Freeze; British Columbia Economy; Federal contribution to the Western Grain Stabilization fund; Alberta Agriculture Assistance; Airfares in the USA under deregulation; Canadian Natural Gas Pricing; Branchline abandonment.
Other issues documented in briefing memoranda during 1986 include: Airport Security; Western Ministers meeting; FAA Airline Inspection Program; U.S. Export Enhancement Program; Cabinet Meeting agenda - reference transportation issues; Freedom to Move; Release of the Report of the Review of the Western Grain Transportation Act; National Transportation Act; Communication consideration with the respect to the Memorandum to the Cabinet entitled - System Provement Reserve -; Western Economic Initiative; Air Canada Route Restructuring ; Nielsen Task Force; Prepared objectives and strategy for increasing the effectiveness of Federal Government Efforts in support of Native Economic Development; Low Level Radioactive waste management; Western Aerospace Technology Limited; Status of Branchlines and Method of payment of the Crow Benefit.
Part three of the Rimmer files entitled Outgoing correspondence consists of copies of Mazankowski's and Rimmer's outgoing correspondence, arranged in chronological order (March 1985-June 1986), sent to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, M.P.s, M.P.P.s, President and Chief Executive officers of various agricultural and transport agencies and organizations, Alberta Band Leaders, Newspaper Editors, owners of privates companies and Canadian citizens.
The issues documented in the outgoing correspondence relate to the implementations of various grain and grain, transportation initiatives at the national and international levels; Expo 86; Reports to the Prime Minister; Soliciting the support of other Cabinet Ministers pertaining to the implementation of various grain and transportation programs; Safety issues; Air India disater; Coordinating federal and Provincial transportation projects; Regulatory reform; Insight on mandates and work progress of various transportation committees.
Melody Tomka was a special assistant to the Minister. Ms Tomka oversaw the files dealing with Railbranch lines; Transportation issues; Acted as liaison between various grain and transportation agencies and the Minister. The files are arranged in alphabetical order.
The Tomka files consists of briefing notes from Departmental staff; Briefing notes to Minister; Briefing notes from the Deputy Minister to the Minister; Incoming-outgoing correspondence from various grain and transportation agencies; Annotated reports from various agricultural agencies; Memorandum to Cabinet; Working documents on policy implementation; News Releases; Photocopies of cartoons documenting Mazankowski activities pertaining to various grain and transportation issues; Reports from the Canadian Grain Council; Information kits; Notes taken during meetings and conversations; Minutes of proceedings of the Standing Committee on Transportation and reports submitted to the Minister.
The issues documented in the Tomka files are: Implementation of policy relating to various Western railway branchlines and subdivisions; Canadian Grain Council; Alberta Wheat Pool; Air Canada; Canadian Agricultural Movement Inc.; CN activities; Canadian Transport Commission; Canadian Wheat Board; Crow; Report of the Committee of Inquiry on the Crow Benefit Payment prepared by Justice Gordon C. Hall; Legislative Review of the Western Grain Transportation Act; Nielsen Task Force on Agriculture; Preparation of press releases documenting the Minister's actions and accomplishments with regard to various grain and transportation issues; Railway Transport Committee; Saskatchewan Wheat Pool; Senior Grain Transportation Committee; United Grain Growers; Via Rail and the Western Grain Stabilization Act.