Agriculture Committee on Feb. 29th, 2024

[Melanie McLearon]

Yes, I would concur with the explanation of how it was laid out.

They are very large areas. They are fed, and they have water throughout the flight. I have loaded them personally onto their trailers on the way to the airport and have seen the care and concern done in that case, with the bandaging of their legs and all the care and concern that goes into the transportation.

Absolutely, one hundred per cent, it would be what she described in terms of transportation. It would not be in cramped quarters or in wooden crates.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

That's great. Thank you very much.

There seems to be this concentration on the standards being the same. We understand that the standards are the same. I think the question is whether the standards are humane for the transport of a companion animal, a very sensitive and sentient animal, that is being transported to their death. When they're not cared for and when no one is at the other end to greet them or to make sure they're well, I think there's a very different standard of care applied.

Ms. Mitchell, I was wondering if you could comment on Willjill Farms. My understanding is that most of the large exporters of horses for slaughter are from Ontario, although I understand that there are some Métis and indigenous farmers involved. The bulk of the transport and profit comes from these farms from Ontario, including Willjill Farms.

There was a case at Bouvry Exports that CFIA investigated. I was wondering if you could comment, Ms. Mitchell, on the treatment of the horses that were found, which were initially set to be exported for slaughter; the condition they were found in; and the standard of care that was applied to them versus what we just heard from both the racetrack and the sport sector.

[Kaitlyn Mitchell]

On the question of the nature of the industry, as we heard this morning, there are about four companies that are exporters. They are based in Alberta and Manitoba. Of those exporters, my understanding, mostly from media articles in the Western Producer and other agricultural sources, is that there are about two major breeders that supply those industries and both are in Ontario. Neither, to my knowledge, are indigenous, though I don't doubt there are many other breeders across the country that are indigenous. Those two, the major breeders, I do not believe are.

As for the specific incident you're talking about, it was really quite shocking. We saw in September 2023 that the CFIA laid charges against Bouvry Exports Limited, which, of course, is one of the major players in this industry. My understanding is that the horses involved were originally destined for the export market, but because of their poor health, they were put into our domestic horse slaughter industry. It sounds like the conditions they arrived in were absolutely atrocious. I've seen the photographs myself of these horses collapsed on the ground. Some eventually died.

It's incredibly concerning. It seems like even within Canada, when these animals are coming from Ontario to these feedlots in Alberta and Manitoba, there are valid concerns about the way they are being treated.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, John Barlow]

That's time, Ms. Taylor Roy.

Thank you very much to our witnesses.

I'll just end it here, colleagues. We'll see everybody after the break.

The meeting is adjourned.