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24-04 - E-Logs and Animal Welfare in Transporting Cattle
The BFO Board of Directors understands and shares concerns regarding Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and their potential impact on animal welfare during transportation. BFO recognizes the significant challenges posed by the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations, and has been actively addressing them with federal and provincial officials.
At the federal level, BFO has been an active participant in the National Working Group – Animal Transport, collaborating with organizations such as the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), Canadian Livestock Transporters’ Alliance, and other provincial and national entities. This group has engaged in discussions with Transport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency advocating for regulatory flexibility to ensure that unforeseen delays do not compromise the welfare of livestock during transport. Specifically, we have requested the federal government harmonize Canadian live animal transport regulations with U.S. legislation, which includes an exemption for livestock and insect haulers from hours-of-service regulations within a 150-air-mile radius from the origin and destination of the animals. Such an exemption would provide necessary flexibility for the timely and safe delivery of livestock.
Additionally, CCA and National Cattle Feeders' Association (NCFA) brought forward concerns regarding ELDs’ impact on animal welfare from the beef industry to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) during its study on ELDs and their impact on the livestock transportation industry. During their presentations to the committee, they highlighted the impact of the ELD regulations on animal welfare and industry operations. Their advocacy aligns with our efforts, reinforcing the need for regulatory adjustments. From those meetings AGRI developed a report on ELDs that aligns with industry viewpoints by addressing key concerns and making recommendations that BFO see as positive. The committee acknowledges the operational challenges livestock haulers face and identified the need for more flexible ELD regulations that accommodate industry's unique demands. A notable recommendation was to provide commercial drivers carrying livestock or insects greater flexibility at the beginning and end of their trips to limit compromising animal health or safety, while considering local conditions and distances. This proposed recommendation would aim to provide added flexibility for livestock haulers when unforeseen circumstances arise, ensuring they can maintain efficiency and compliance without compromising safety. This alignment underscores a collaborative effort to balance regulatory compliance with the practical needs of the industry, promoting both safety and efficiency in agricultural transportation. The government response to the report can be found here.
Following AGRI’s recommendations on ELDs, MP Martin Shields introduced Private Members' Bill C-385 An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, which aims to address these concerns. The bill seeks to codify the proposed 240 km exemption at the beginning and end of trips, providing livestock haulers the flexibility to effectively manage unforeseen circumstances. BFO sent a letter of support to MP Shields thanking him for bringing this bill forward and taking action on the recommendations that came out of AGRI’s report on ELDs. We offered our support and assistance as the bill works its way through the House. BFO will also be sending a letter to all Ontario MPs regarding the bill, indicating our support and detailing how the bill will strike a balance between animal welfare and road safety.
While the regulations are federal, their enforcement is managed provincially. BFO has met with provincial officials to discuss the grassroots impact these regulations have on the livestock sector. BFO then sent a letter to the provincial Minister of Transportation, outlining our concerns and requested immediate guidance to enforcement officers clearly stating that certain scenarios should be classified as “emergency situations” when dealing with livestock transportation. BFO received a response from the Minister of Transportation regarding this request, which can be found in last year's resolution response, 23-03 on the BFO website.
BFO will continue to monitor this issue and push for inclusion of clear and more distinct language around animal welfare in the emergency exemption clauses. Attached to the PDF version of this response, you will find the letter BFO sent to MP Shields supporting his Private Members’ Bill C-385 and the letter BFO is sending to all Ontario MPs requesting their support of this bill and ensure its passage within the House of Commons. We will keep members apprised of any updates.