Agriculture committee  Thank you for the question. I think it is going to do the opposite, because it gives the impression of further decreasing the tools that are available that my colleague Ms. Martellani spoke about. We need more tools in order to be able to show what is actually happening on farms.

Agriculture committee  Absolutely, and one also needs context in order to interpret the meaning of that. I hear your point, though.

Agriculture committee  I'm not trying to misrepresent.... There has been a growth in the size of animal production facilities in this country. The decreasing number of family farms as referenced in B.C. is a prime example, perhaps, of smaller numbers and larger operations.

Agriculture committee  Thank you for the question. It's not my intention to misrepresent anything. I am actually a scientist, so when you give me numbers without reference to what's specifically being looked at, it's very difficult for me to comment. That being said—

Agriculture committee  Right, but then you listed.... Anyway....

Agriculture committee  Thank you for the question. From our perspective, the bill is not an appropriate way to address the issues of concern. Biosecurity measures or the amendment you're speaking about, through which the bill would apply to not only those without lawful authority but also to those who do have an excuse to be on the farm, might be an improvement, because as we heard in the previous panel, the biosecurity risks are typically greatest from activities and practices on the farm as opposed to those coming from the outside.

Agriculture committee  It's an interesting question. Thank you. I have not had the pleasure of getting to know the family and Mr. Binnendyk and the situation. I am not involved in the case. It is not something that I can—

Agriculture committee  Absolutely not. Humane Canada does not support trespassing. We are completely empathetic to the horrendous impacts on mental health. However, there are other ways to address the concerns about what's happening on farms than to further reduce transparency. Thank you.

Agriculture committee  Thank you for the question. I think all of those benefits to the environment are feasible in an environmentally sustainable farming set-up operation. The majority of farms in Canada are highly intensive operations with thousands of animals, often indoors, and a lot of impact in terms of pollution, in terms of other impacts on the environment and certainly on animal welfare, as well as, I would argue, on the people who are working in that environment.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. Humane Canada is proud to be here speaking alongside our member, the oldest SPCA in Canada. We represent humane societies and SPCAs across the country, many of which enforce animal protection law. Humane Canada is not an activist organization, nor do we campaign to end animal agriculture, yet we are very concerned about the welfare of farmed animals.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll let Ms. Martellani begin, please. Thank you.