Thank you for that, but the delay is unreasonable for the duck industry. We have find a way to move faster.
Still on the subject of the duck industry, we know that cases of avian influenza have recently appeared here. I don't want to look like the guy who doesn't care—I definitely do—but, in other countries, when a flock is considered low pathogenic, it is monitored and it can still be slaughtered and sold. In Canada, in contrast, things move very quickly and flocks are destroyed before the results of the tests to determine whether the animals are low or high pathogenic are even available. Here's a concrete example that was shared with me. Three flocks were declared low pathogenic. Two of the flocks were destroyed before the test results were received. Fortunately, the third was saved thanks to the test result.
This isn't about not being careful. I want to make it very clear that I'm not a scientist, but is Canada moving too quickly? Other countries, such as France, the Netherlands and Poland, do not slaughter animals considered to be low pathogenic. I gather they even send some to us. In all likelihood, these birds are being imported, while here they are being destroyed.
If our choice is to follow the science and be extremely strict and destroy the flocks, that's fine, but shouldn't producers receive adequate compensation? They're not compensated after the birds are destroyed. According to producers, it costs between $20,000 and $30,000 per building to clean up and pay workers. What do you think of that, Minister? Don't you think we could do better?