I don't mean to say anything about my colleagues or the chair, but certainly you've done great work in your office.
I would like to talk about chapter 9, and then if we have time perhaps go back to some issues out of chapter 2 and perhaps chapter 3.
It's extremely important to Canadian livestock producers, because of the highly contagious nature of some of these diseases and the risks we have to all producers in Canada.... The audit clearly shows that under the government's leadership, CFIA has planned for and responded to and improved their management of animal disease situations. I'm sure that agriculture producers, as well as Canadian consumers, will be pleased the audit recognizes that CFIA is prepared, whenever the next animal disease issue occurs, and that the government will continue to give CFIA the resources it needs to safeguard Canada's agriculture and food industry.
I note here that you found in the audit that the agency has assessed animal disease risk and invested considerable efforts in developing emergency preparedness and response strategies, including an overall emergency response plan, and disease-specific plans for avian influenza and foot and mouth disease.
Would you say CFIA's emergency preparedness and response strategies are in line with what's needed when dealing with animal diseases?