I call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 94 of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri‑Food.
I will start with a few reminders. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. Just so you are aware, the webcast will always show the person speaking, rather than the entirety of the committee. Screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, January 31, 2024, and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, February 8, 2024, the committee is resuming consideration of Bill C-355, An Act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter and to make related amendments to certain Acts, an act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter and to make related amendments to certain acts.
I would now like to welcome our witnesses for the first panel.
From the Canada Border Services Agency, we have two officials with us. First, we have Graeme Hamilton, acting director general, traveller, commercial and trade policy directorate, strategic policy branch.
We also have Cathy Toxopeus, director general of commercial programs in the commercial and trade branch.
No stranger to this committee, from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, we have Dr. Mary Jane Ireland. Thank you for being back. She serves as the executive director of the animal health directorate and as the chief veterinary officer for Canada. Joining her today is Dr. Rick James-Davies, director general of western operations. Thank you both for being here.
We also have Ms. Shannon Nix, assistant deputy minister of the strategic policy branch, with the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Thank you for being here today.
We're going to allow five minutes for opening remarks from each organization. I'm going to start with the Canada Border Services Agency.
It's over to you for up to five minutes.