Agriculture committee  You're absolutely right. We plan our trips to get to our destinations, but it's based on normal days. We don't plan our trips around extreme circumstances that will prevent us from reaching our destinations. We want to have flexibility precisely in those circumstances where we can't get to our destination for animal welfare reasons, but also for biosecurity reasons, of course.

Agriculture committee  Normally, this should have no impact on transportation, since the measures we're currently examining apply when it's beyond 10 hours, unless there are exceptional circumstances, of course. In Quebec, most hogs will be redirected to other slaughterhouses.

Agriculture committee  You're absolutely right. There are hogs that are going to have to be transported over longer distances. I would like to highlight the fact that what we're really asking for is not to treat our animals the way we would treat toilet paper shipments. When we stop at the side of the road, it's not the same reality, and we would like that reality to be taken into account in the regulations.

Agriculture committee  I will give you a very concrete example of a challenge or problem that can arise. When animals get on the trucks, they are entering a new environment, and it's stressful for them. It's a time when the risk of injury is greater. Once the animals are in the truck, if the transport takes a long time, they will lie down, so there is much less risk of injury.

Agriculture committee  In Quebec, we had a year when we had to transport hogs over very long distances, for reasons that most of you are familiar with. We have…. I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought there.

Agriculture committee  For the ventilation to work properly, we have to drive at a certain speed. When it's warm, we reduce the number of pigs in our trucks so the ventilation is better. However, when it's warm, it's warm, and the animals release heat. There's no possible airflow in an enclosed area if the truck isn't moving, so the temperature rises, which poses an additional risk.

Agriculture committee  That's right. We aren't asking for a systematic increase in our flexibility. What we're asking for is flexibility in the event of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances.

Agriculture committee  Ms. Noble raised the issue of including this flexibility for unforeseen situations, and that's basically what we're asking for. It's important to recognize that not everyone is very familiar with the agricultural sector. If this aspect isn't clarified in the legislation, peace officers, whose role is to enforce the law, won't necessarily understand the situation.

Agriculture committee  What we do as producers is that we plan our travel. If it's, for example, longer than the prescribed time, we are planning a stop somewhere else. The problem is if there are unforeseen events. We are not reaching this planned stop place, so it's increasing the risk of biosecurity, of course, but also putting the animals' welfare at risk.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the invitation. Thank you as well to the committee members for your work on this issue. My name is René Roy, and I am the chair of the Canadian Pork Council. Joining me this morning is Eric Schwindt, a member of the Canadian Pork Council board of directors and a producer from Ontario.

Agriculture committee  Well, I think we have somebody who is testifying about what is happening right now in B.C.

Agriculture committee  We have the ability with this bill to be proactive and—I think this is important—to protect not only animal health but also human health, because there are risks also for human health. When we have disease, it can mean an additional threat to human health, so I think there is a role at the federal level.

Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, I will be relatively short on this one. Animal health is under federal jurisdiction. We know—it has been demonstrated in a number of the testimonies—that humans are disease vectors for animals. There is a direct link between trespassers and animal health, so there is a possibility with this bill to protect our animal health in Canada.

Agriculture committee  Well, we have various experts in the field who are saying that humans are disease vectors. Those who are not saying that are not addressing the point. I would like to see the science behind it, because with everything on our farm, it's clear that humans are disease vectors. If we don't control the risk of trespassers, there's an increased likelihood of having additional disease on our farms.

Agriculture committee  I'd like to start by saying that the whole farm intrusion issue leads to misinformation because it's not verified. One side does its advertising, often for pecuniary interests. I'd like to mention that, very often, there's a company behind this kind of action.