International Trade committee  It's Jack Chaffe. On behalf of the Canadian Cattle Association, the CCA, I'd like to thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to your committee today about the CUSMA review. My name is Jack Chaffe and I'm the officer at large for the CCA. I have a feedlot in southwestern Ontario, where I farm with my family.

Agriculture committee  I know that Ms. Noble mentioned the U.S. regulations giving that radius of 150 air miles. That's key, especially to those loads of cattle heading from western Canada to eastern Canada, if you have to make two stops to pick up your load. If you're at a ranch and you pick up half your load, and then you have to go to a sale barn to pick up the balance of your load, and you start heading east and all of a sudden you run into a snowstorm, a flat tire or whatever, that's where we need the flexibility to make it to that next rest stop.

Agriculture committee  I appreciate the question. I'll use this example. At our feedlot, we bring a lot of western calves out of western Canada into Ontario. They have to stop at Thunder Bay for feed, water and rest. A situation arises where you load cattle in Saskatchewan, you're coming across and you figure on getting to Thunder Bay in time for your feed, water and rest.

Agriculture committee  The only feed, water and rest stations that are set up for that are the ones in Thunder Bay. Currently, they're at maximum use.

Agriculture committee  Currently, most drivers are recommended to call ahead to slot themselves in for unloading there. At times there could be a wait time of one to two hours for unloading.

Agriculture committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair, Vice-Chair and members. Thank you for the invitation to appear before you. My name is Jack Chaffe. I'm a cattle feeder and grain farmer from southwestern Ontario in the Stratford-Mitchell area. I am president of the Beef Farmers of Ontario and an officer with the Canadian Cattle Association.