OTTAWA — Just a few weeks after 81 pigs were killed in a truck rollover near Toronto, Canada is cracking down on carriers who improperly transport livestock.

Effective immediately, maximum administrative monetary penalties (AMPS) for the worst livestock hauling violations will more than double, up to $10,000 from the previous cap of $4,000.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says that maximum penalties for minor violations increased to $1,300 from $500; and to $6,000 from $2,000 for more serious violations.

Two-time offenders of "very serious violations" within five years could get slapped with a $15,000 fine instead of the previous maximum of $6,000.

And the CFIA will have the ability to look back into the past five years, instead of three years, of the offender’s history.

These increases will also be applied to the Plant Protection Act to deal with violations such as the importation of prohibited plants, says CFIA.

"The agriculture industry knows that a healthy farm and processing business begins with healthy animals and while the majority handles and transports animals safely, a few need to do better,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Our Government is providing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with the tools it needs to impose tougher fines and improve animal welfare."

Meanwhile, the Livestock Transporters’ Division of the Ontario Trucking Association recently called on carriers, shippers and governments to jointly create a "safe, responsible and accountable system of live animal transport in Ontario."

The group issued a discussion paper that included proposals for improving the integrity of livestock transport.