Evidence of meeting #50 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was regulations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
I appreciate that, Mr. Chair, and I'd be happy to have you finish your thought.
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Okay, thank you. I will try to finish it.
We have clearly defined the regulations for the unfit and for compromised animals. We have defined the conditions for making them travel if they become compromised or if they're compromised before they're put on a transportation vehicle. Whereas if the animal is unfit, then we are saying you cannot make that animal travel at all. That is the distinction we're making.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
As we work through this and the amount of time for transportation, could you touch on the context as we look at slaughterhouses across Canada? There seems to be more stress on these regulations, as a tremendous number of slaughterhouses have been closed over a period of time. I know that's a significant issue in my province of New Brunswick. Are we seeing those travel times increase dramatically because of that?
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
There's been a lot of adjustment ever since these regulations were first published in 1977. For example, we had upwards of 400 slaughterhouses across Canada, and I think currently the number of federally registered establishments may be less than 100. That is not to say that animals cannot go to provincial plants or municipal plants, but in order for food to be traded internationally and interprovincially, those animals go to the federally registered establishments.
These animals travel longer distances than before, and because of that it is very important to make sure that these animals are taken care of. That's why we prescribed the definite times for travel in addition to—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Sorry, to interrupt, Mr. Komal. We just had notice that there will be a vote in half an hour. We can go a while longer if you wish, but I would need full consensus to continue.
Are we good with 15? Can we make it there?
Liberal
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
For this part of the regulations, we are prescribing the time, but we're saying that it's also the outcome. If during the transport time animals become distressed or sick, or if something else happens, the transporter has to assess and maybe reduce the intervals for travelling.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
Sorry, I didn't hear that last part. You said, “And maybe....”
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
And maybe reduce that interval of the time for travelling these animals. Instead of travelling them for 36 hours, if the trucker thinks that animals are getting sick, that the temperature's not very good, or that it's too cold or too hot, they need to make an assessment of how far they can go. That's why the training is very important for these people who are handling the animals.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
During your consultations, have you heard from producers in Atlantic Canada about increased stresses or challenges in transportation? What are you hearing?
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Yes, we have heard from all stakeholders including producers. We were at a meeting a couple of weeks ago where we had Atlantic producers. They are concerned about the animals travelling farther and farther, and they are concerned about the distance. As I said previously, however, if we keep these animals travelling for long distances, there's more stress than if we make them stop and take some rest for seven or eight hours before they continue.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
I guess I'm just looking at it from the perspective of the producers. They don't have as many local options for slaughterhouses, and at the same time they're feeling the pinch on the other side. It is a balancing act, as you've already alluded to, but there are some realities on the ground that we need to be sensitive to as well. I just want to make sure that in your evaluation those are being considered.
Clearly, I'm more familiar with eastern Canada. I know it's a much smaller scale than the rest of Canada, but I think there are some significant challenges there as well.
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Yes. We also have the data within CFIA for the travel of these animals, because our inspectors collect that data. We did the analysis of the data, and we think that close to 98% of these shipments will already be compliant with these transport times.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
That's a very good piece of data to have. My next question was going to be about the compliance, so thank you for that.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Komal, thank you for being here.
Thinking of innovation, things have changed a lot since 1977. I remember 1977. Disco was in, and cows all had Afros.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I'm wondering about the transportation systems themselves and whether those are keeping up with the changing situations, as Ms. Lockhart put out there in terms of the reduced number of slaughterhouses. Is the transportation technology changing in any way to try to keep up with the changes at slaughterhouses?
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Yes. A lot has changed since 1977. In 1977 animals mostly travelled by rail. Currently lots of animals travel by trucks, so that has changed.
Industry has also adjusted quite a bit. Industry has done a lot of good work. That includes producers, transporters, and everybody else. Industry has developed codes of practice for animals on the farm and also for transportation. In fact, industry is developing a transportation code. They're just waiting for these regulations to be passed so that they can adjust their code accordingly.
There is a lot of innovation in the transport system, although not as much as we would like to see. There is a lot more in Europe. In Europe they have trucks equipped with water and feeders and a lot of other things, but here in Canada I think there's a lot of innovation in terms of protecting animals from frostbite and what they need to do if the centre of the truck gets too warm. The training of these handlers will further enhance that innovation, I think.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
With regard to the all-government approach that we looked at in an earlier study, having innovation included in maybe upgrades that might be needed in terms of the new regulations coming in, I'm also thinking of the connections to the Canada Border Services Agency and what happens with delays at the border. Could you speak to that in terms of how CBSA works with CFIA in monitoring delays at the border, if those occur?
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Yes. We are very well connected. CBSA delivers services on behalf of CFIA. We have an understanding with CBSA. They are very well aware of the truckloads of animals that are moving. Millions and millions of animals move back and forth, especially in western Canada. There is a mechanism to pre-inform the Canada Border Services Agency that these loads are coming and they shouldn't be waiting long in the queue at the border. That understanding is there.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
In the House two weeks ago, we were talking about pre-clearance and changing some of the regulations about clearing shipments of goods and people to the United States. Does that impact on this discussion?
Executive Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Yes, definitely. We are also working on our side to do innovation, such as the electronic exchange of information with our colleagues at the USDA. We have implemented a pilot in western Canada at four different crossings where we can just exchange electronic signatures. We are working very closely with the USDA APHIS, the animal and plant health quarantine service in the U.S., to ensure that these things are happening. Yes. This will be very helpful to us for pre-clearance.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
One of the challenges we all face is communications. People go on the assumption that nothing is being done and wonder how the communications rolls out to industry and who's picking up the cost for some of the changes that have to be done to keep up with technology. What's being done through your consultation process? I think Mr. Anderson asked, “Is this another surprise?” It sounds like the industry has been very well informed along the way. Is that your evaluation or do you see communications as a challenge?