As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food recommends that the Government of Canada, in accordance with provincial and territorial jurisdictions:

Recommendation 1

Take the following measures with respect to unforeseeable circumstances and emergency situations in subsections 76(1) and (2) of the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations to provide the necessary flexibility to transport animals to their destination while providing clear guidance so that the regulations are not variously interpreted:

• develop a comprehensive list of what constitutes an emergency situation;
• consider animal welfare concerns when permitting drivers to extend the driving time allowed during adverse driving conditions or emergency situations;
• work immediately with the Canadian Council of Motor Transportation Administrations to provide clear guidance to all enforcement officers concerning section 76 of the regulations to clarify that a risk to animal welfare is considered an emergency situation to ensure it is enforced consistently; and
• provide government inspectors training from Canadian Livestock Transport on how to properly identify animal welfare scenarios that would necessitate an exemption in ELD Hours of Service requirements.

Recommendation 2

Consider the possibility of revising the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations to provide commercial drivers carrying livestock or insects with greater flexibility at the beginning and end of their trips, without compromising animal health or safety and taking into account local conditions and distances.

Recommendation 3

Consider amending section 2(1) of the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations to broaden its exemptions to include agricultural producers, notably beekeepers, who use tractor trailers to transport their own products.

Recommendation 4

Take the following measures with respect to animal transport:

• work with industry to promote the development of additional roadside stops and rest areas where truck drivers can stop and provide food and rest to livestock they are transporting and collected better data on livestock transport routes;
• encourage the adoption of new livestock traceability and monitoring systems like the Canadian Sheep Foundation’s AgroLedger platform; and
• encourage the adoption of innovative solutions that could improve ventilation in animal transport vehicles during periods of extreme heat, particularly in the context of rising temperatures and extreme climate events.

Recommendation 5

Facilitate the transition of willing small and medium-sized slaughterhouses to federal inspection standards and remove regulatory barriers to reduce costs, thereby reducing the distances drivers must travel to transport animals, which will help to ensure that the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations’ requirements can be met even when drivers encounter extraordinary circumstances.