Thank you, Chair.
I want to thank all the witnesses for being here virtually and in person. It means a lot to us.
We all want to make sure that our drivers are safe. We want to make sure that other vehicles on the road are safe, and we want to make sure that the animals are safe. I think there is consensus here.
We're looking at what's been described as some “rigid” legislation that has some subjectivity in it. We've heard that section 76 of the regulations says that requirements do not apply to drivers during an emergency. From what I'm hearing and from what we're hearing as testimony, we're looking for clarification so that the people who are doing the enforcement are not in that subjective position to decide. No regulatory changes are being suggested right now. We're just looking for meaningful, realistic and timely solutions, considering animal welfare as it concerns an emergency.
Maybe I'll start with Mr. Schwindt from the Canadian Pork Council. I appreciate your sticking around for the second panel as well.
In our region, we have Sofina Foods and Conestoga Meats close, but a number of truck transports of Ontario hogs have gone to Quebec in the past. With Olymel's closure, that's changed the face of the industry.
How has that affected the distances that drivers are facing?