Good morning. Thank you. It's an honour to present our insights to this distinguished committee today.
My name is Corlena Patterson. I'm the executive director of the Canadian Sheep Federation, a position I've held for over a decade. I'm here to share the realities and challenges faced by our particular sector due to the implementation of ELDs in commercial livestock transportation. We're grateful for this opportunity to speak to you, despite today being Ottawa's first pop quiz on winter driving.
Despite its quiet profile, our industry plays a significant and dynamic role in Canada's agricultural tapestry. Our sector boasts close to 12,000 farms, ranging from eco-conscious scaled operations to substantial commercial enterprises. In fact, the community of sheep farms in Canada outnumbers that of dairy farms and is on par with those of pork and poultry farms put together.
Our industry's profile necessitates the long-distance transport of live animals from their rearing locations to their processing sites. With 80%, or the majority, of our processing occurring at provincially inspected facilities, we're compelled to move live animals for long distances across the country to get them near to the ultimate market destinations.
A recent environmental impact assessment of our supply chain that we did in conjunction with Clarkson University conservatively estimated that to transport approximately 275,000 head of sheep and lambs to various processing centres, our haulers covered over 914,000 kilometres. These figures are based on StatsCan numbers, which we know tend to underestimate the size and scope of our industry. Our own administrative data suggests that the real number pushes closer to 900,000 head, and this would mean that our haulers traverse three million miles to ensure our animals reach their intended processing sites. These numbers emphasize the critical nature of efficient and effective transportation in our sector.
Based on the complexities and the nature of the animals, the transportation of live animals is in stark contrast to that of moving inanimate goods, as I'm sure you've heard from many who have spoken to you through this hearing. Delays are inherent in the loading and unloading processes and in transportation events. They arise from the temperament of animals, welfare-oriented loading and unloading practices and delays along the route. Such delays cut into drivers' hours of service and can lead to unplanned stops, which further complicate adherence to humane transportation regulations. The potential for ELDs to count these non-driving hours towards total hours of service is a major concern.
The U.S. policy that exempts commercial livestock haulers from on-duty time within 150 miles of departure and destination sites is a recognition of these anticipated delays that are early and late in that transportation event. Such measures understand the intricate realities of animal transport and the necessity for regulations that are tuned to the industry's unique challenges. Similar Canadian exemptions would buffer against these unpredictabilities and safeguard animal welfare, ensuring compliance isn't compromised by variables outside of haulers' control.
Moreover, we have to understand the potential of negative public reactions to the sight of animals appearing to be in distress in haulers that are parked at rest stops along the 401. This concern goes beyond mere compliance; it's about the balance between maintaining regulatory standards and the agricultural sector's public image. The delicate balance underscores the need for thoughtful and flexible regulatory frameworks.
We recognize the significant role that transport plays for us, so we place the highest emphasis on animal health and welfare. Sheep react differently to transportation events than some other species do, so to ensure our practices are reflective of this, we've invested heavily in research to objectively validate welfare during transport. Our innovative approach has led to the development of artificial intelligence systems designed to actively assess, monitor and report on the welfare of animals in real time during that transportation event. The system not only substantiates stress levels but can also signal welfare issues to haulers and drivers as the issues arise. It can also validate the need for an exemption should drivers need to exceed their hours of service.
We also feel we have additional mechanisms that can support accurate logging of drive times for livestock transport. We have incoming traceability regulations that necessitate that every shipment, including that of sheep, is accompanied by movement documentation, which, by virtue of that regulation, requires that we mark departure and arrival times at sites.
Our latest innovation in that traceability field and the design of our AgroLedger traceability system transforms those records to digital and uses blockchain technology for the management of the data. This advancement not only allows the real-time recording of transport events [Technical difficulty—Editor].