Maple Lodge Farm report

Justice Kastner commented on the “perfect storm” of problems associated with T-07, including cold
temperatures, blowing snow, wind, exposure of the top row of crates until the upper tarp could be
secured, failure to leave any empty crates around the bottom perimeter on loading, possible overtightening
of the tarp, accumulation of snow and ice inside the back of the trailer, failure to stop to
adjust the tarping and allow the birds to warm up and rest on a long trip, understaffing at the MLF yard,
re-assignment of a barn worker for snow removal, failure to monitor the load adequately in the holding
barn, and insufficient (driver) training. 64
The lack of staff training concerning transport of birds in inclement weather was a major concern for the
judge. A key example cited was then-live haul supervisor Bernard Durose’s lack of knowledge about, and
use, of a document for training drivers, titled, Should this Bird be Loaded? Guidelines for Transporting
Poultry. 65 This “decision tree” document was developed cooperatively by Canadian industry, academics
and government.
The Crown argued a pervasive attitude of MLF was one of profits ahead of animal welfare – that when
there was a tension between the needs of the animals and the expediency of the production line, the
balance fell on the side of industrial requirements. 66
64
Justice Kastner’s ruling, Paragraph 441.
65
Justice Kastner’s ruling, Paragraph 446.
66
Justice Kastner’s ruling, Paragraph 453.
Economics over animal welfare [ 26 ]