West Hawk Lake Zoning Initiative

Funded by The Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Canada’s West Hawk Lake (WHL), near the Manitoba/Ontario border, is internationally recognized as being one of the most unique, natural zones in the world because of its natural geography, relative public/agriculture/wildlife isolation, and its location on an existing “choke point” on the only major highway and railways connecting eastern and western Canada. The US has recognized Canada’s zoning efforts to date. The WHL initiative will develop the capability to implement a two-zone system at WHL where Canada’s industry will most likely need it, and where it is likely to create the most value. Successfully navigating the process is the Canadian Zoning Committee-WHL (CZC-WHL) – a unified representative stakeholder group. The WHL initiative addresses the basic capabilities of a static zone within the parameters of minimal cost and impact on commerce. It has been designed to implement an effective zone at this unique choke point, if and when needed. The initiative has been based on the reality that a viable zone will enhance Canada’s ability to:

• Respond to a major FAD
• Recover long term sustainability after a major FAD
• Reduce the economic impact of a FAD by as much as 50%

Current Status

The CZC-WHL was formed in September, 2005 and is in its final phases of this project, nearing completion in the summer of 2008.

• Phase 1: Building the Foundation (August 15, 2005 – January 31, 2006 – extended to June 30, 2006) – focused on enhancing awareness and support amongst government and industry to what has been proposed; assessed database and user requirements; defined a governance structure; and reviewed regulatory change requirements. Detailed plans were developed for communication, governance, funding, and data capture of livestock movement across the control site.
• Phase 2: Development of Tools (July 1, 2006 – December 31, 2006, extension to June, 2007) – proceeding with the information technology development; design of training materials for inspection staff; development of procedural and policy manuals for operations; drafting of incorporation documents and regulatory framework for support of zoning.
• Phase 3: Implementation (July 1, 2007 - July 31, 2007) - testing the 'Solution' through a focused, phased approach PILOT. Our objective is to meet both business and technical needs - and deliver the best possible solution.

Going Forward

• The Final Phase will see:
• –        Identification of movement of animals across the WHL zone control site
• –    Preparation of industry to recognize risks & contribute to decision - making
• –    Further Cooperation between livestock industry & local/ national/ international authorities

• PILOT:

• -          On-site one-on-one ‘walk-throughs’ with the participants, looking at such factors as loading / unloading conditions, speed and ease of data transfer, and accuracy and integrity of the data. 

•  -          Assessing the Zoning System design relative to its ability to meet user and emergency needs with accurate, easy to use, reliable, secure capability.

• -          Assessing the producer / processor acceptability of the process after they have ‘test drove’ it on the pilot – what are their experiences and advice for improvement? 

• Agreements that will:

• -        consider the sharing of responsibility and cost –  by industry and government.

• -        ensure the taining of a complement of zone monitoring crew.

Support of this project by industry and government has been recognized through its development and implementation.