Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mayers, and your colleagues, thanks very much for coming today.
There's a couple of things I need to point out and emphasize--some things you had in your written material. One is that most producers and transporters in Canada are certainly committed to the humane transport of animals. That goes without saying. For farmers in general, livestock is their livelihood and they have a deep respect. I think I can speak to that pretty honestly, being a farmer myself.
You pointed out that new transportation vehicles and equipment have become available. But the key words you didn't have in there, Mr. Mayers, are “better” and “improved”. If anything, the equipment that's used is far better than it was years ago.
As I read through your notes here, one other thing that really bothers me is that you never miss an opportunity to emphasize animal welfare advocates. Although their comments are important, we have to keep in mind that there are some groups out there--I'm simply going to say that--that are so far out in left field that it's not reality. As for where you need to be doing your consultation, by far the large majority is within the industry--the producers, the haulers, that kind of thing. I think you need to stay in that.
To keep it brief, you talk about cross-contamination. Cross-contamination of what?