Mr. Speaker, the answer is that we do not know what caused the three outbreaks in 2004, 2005 and 2009.
All owners, operators and workers on poultry farms should take steps to protect themselves from avian influenza. Operators should develop a response plan to complement provincial and industry plans and designate a response plan manager. All workers should practise biosecurity and know the plan and their responsibilities.
Flocks should be isolated from outside environments, wild birds and water sources that might be contaminated. All workers should know the signs of avian flu with the highly pathogenic H5N1 and the possible symptoms of avian influenza in humans.
What steps has the government taken to make sure that poultry producers have an avian influenza response plan that complements industry and provincial plans? What percentage of Canadian poultry farms is prepared for the next flu pandemic, and what economic—