Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses here, in person and online.
Just to step back for a second, in having full understanding of this bill it's important to highlight what this legislation does not do. I propose that this is a stand-alone bill for a specific purpose, which is to ban the export of live horses for slaughter by air.
I have been assuring our hard-working farmers and ranchers, and I will continue to assure them, that Bill C-355 is specifically aimed at banning the export of live horses for slaughter and is not affecting any other sector. Our farmers continue to put food on Canadians' tables, and I'll continue to support them.
In my riding of Kitchener—Conestoga and here in Ottawa, as I did as recently as a few hours ago, I hear from agriculture stakeholders on a regular basis. All Canadians appreciate their contributions to our nation's food security.
To Ms. Cartwright, thank you again for being here from Humane Canada.
You mentioned that you are a founding member of the National Farm Animal Care Council. Their goal it is to implement a comprehensive and strategic approach to farm animal care in Canada. You work together with industry and also give direct input on agricultural policy to federal, provincial and territorial levels, so I appreciate that.
Some other organizations that I believe are on the care council are the Canadian Cattle Association, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the Canadian Meat Council, the Canadian Pork Council, the Canadian Sheep Federation, the Chicken Farmers of Canada, the Turkey Farmers of Canada and Equestrian Canada, among others.
Can you let Canadians know what our committee has heard time and time again about how working together throughout the agriculture sector with organizations like yours at all levels of government can benefit Canada's food supply?
Can you tell me how you collaborate with the organizations I mentioned previously to help shape those policies and share best practices?