FERTILIZER GIANT TEMPORARILY TO LAY OFF UP TO 1,300

Fertilizer giant Nutrien Ltd. says it will temporarily lay off up to 1,300 workers at two of its potash mines in Saskatchewan. The layoffs are to affect staff at the Vanscoy mine this month and the Allan mine in early May. Will Tigley, a company spokesman, says some essential staff would remain at both facilities. According to Nutrien, the layoff is directly related to rail transportation backlogs,

the possibility of a Canadian Pacific Railway strike and growing inventory. The company says layoffs aren’t unusual and they could last for days or weeks. Premier Scott Moe, pictured, called on the federal government to put pressure on the railways to improve service. Nutrien formed at the start of the year out of the merger of Potash Corp. and Agrium Inc.