Operators of the West Hawk Lake livestock checkpoint are trying to get federal funding through the Growing Forward 2 program to reopen the project.
Federal government money ran out earlier this year and the project closed Jan. 13.
The checkpoint, near the Manitoba-Ontario border on the Trans-Canada Highway, is designed to contain an animal disease outbreak in one of the two zones (Eastern or Western Canada) so in the event of a disease outbreak in one zone, product from the other zone will remain safe.
It has been in operation since 2006.
“We are confident in the program we are putting forward with the Growing Forward 2 application,” said site manager Marcie Woods.
The facility closed Jan. 13. Support to have it reopened has come from the livestock industry, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture Canada.
The proposal before government includes a component for research and automated scanning at the site.
In 2012 about 4,000 loads of animals passed through the zone.
“There still is enough animal movement across Canada where people should be thinking about strategies,” Woods said.
