The West Hawk Lake livestock checkpoint has temporarily ceased operation.
Federal government money ran out earlier this year and the operators of the site have applied for funding through Growing Forward 2 to reopen the site that closed Jan. 13.
The checkpoint is located near the Manitoba-Ontario border on the Trans-Canada Highway and can track and control movement in case of an animal health emergency.
It is designed to contain an outbreak in one of the two zones 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.
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“We are confident in the program we are putting forward with the Growing Forward 2 application,” said site manager Marcie Woods.
Support to have the checkpoint 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.
Livestock haulers are now asked to submit their travel plans to www.clia.livestockid.ca/CLTS/secure/user/home.do.
