Dear Ms. Kelly: 

Thanks very much for your reply. The situation looks better than I expected. 99% participation in an unannounced audit program is  impressive. However, from a consumer and animal welfare perspective,  it troubles me that the process appears to be an entirely internal  affair with no oversight by any third party with an unconflicted  interest in animal welfare - the Winnipeg Humane Society or the  Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals, for example. Do you or CEMA  plan at some point to introduce such oversight and transparency to  the program? Is there currently any oversight/review by CFIA? I  realize that one could compare the current program to self-policing  by the medical profession, but in this case the potential victims  have no way of speaking up and complaining for themselves. 

May I ask a couple more follow-up questions? 

You write that all farmers have passed the inspections, but also  that "MEP has in the past requested action by a provincial  veterinarian under the Animal Care Act to investigate a registered  egg farm. The farm was inspected, recommendations were made and the  farmer undertook a major renovation of his facility as required."  That doesn't sound like a conventional passing grade; or did this  occur outside of the Animal Care Program or before its inception?  Even if it did, could you give me some idea of what "passing" means?  From your other answers, as well as a story a couple years ago in  the MB Cooperator about the program, I get the impression that - at  least at this early stage of implementation - passing may include an  "E for effort" as producers learn what's expected of them and  respond satisfactorilly to suggestions from the inspectors or the  peer review program. Is that correct? Could you spell it out more  clearly for Aquarian readers? 

Did I infer correctly that all spent hens in Manitoba are now euthanized on-farm? If not, what percentage are shipped to processors? 

Again, thank you very much for your information. 

Sincerely, 
Syd Baumel 

The Aquarian's Ethical Food Market

EGG-FREE
recipes & products

Compassion Over Killing (USA)

Vegan Society (UK)

Learn More

The Truth About Canada's Egg Industry (Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals)

Chickenout.ca (Vancouver Humane Society)

Canadian Agri-Food Research Council's Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets, Layers and Spent Fowl

> BEYOND CANADA

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:"Wegmans Cruelty": an undercover investigation of the immense egg barn of a leading American grocery chain is the basis of an outstanding 27-minute documentary that lays bare the secrets of the battery egg industry (streaming video or download) 

Behind the Label: "Animal Care Certified" (by Peter Singer and Jim Mason) 

Battery Hens (United Poultry Concerns, USA)

Eggindustry.com (Compassion Over Killing, USA)

No Battery Eggs (Humane Society of the United States)

Egg-laying Hens (Compassion in World Farming, UK)