On the question of the nature of the industry, as we heard this morning, there are about four companies that are exporters. They are based in Alberta and Manitoba. Of those exporters, my understanding, mostly from media articles in the Western Producer and other agricultural sources, is that there are about two major breeders that supply those industries and both are in Ontario. Neither, to my knowledge, are indigenous, though I don't doubt there are many other breeders across the country that are indigenous. Those two, the major breeders, I do not believe are.
As for the specific incident you're talking about, it was really quite shocking. We saw in September 2023 that the CFIA laid charges against Bouvry Exports Limited, which, of course, is one of the major players in this industry. My understanding is that the horses involved were originally destined for the export market, but because of their poor health, they were put into our domestic horse slaughter industry. It sounds like the conditions they arrived in were absolutely atrocious. I've seen the photographs myself of these horses collapsed on the ground. Some eventually died.
It's incredibly concerning. It seems like even within Canada, when these animals are coming from Ontario to these feedlots in Alberta and Manitoba, there are valid concerns about the way they are being treated.