Ontario's farm community keeps a close eye on CFIA shift to Health Canada

Friday, October 18, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

The last thing Ontario farmers want to see from the change in federal departments the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports to is more regulations.

Amy Cronin, chair of Ontario Pork, says the most important thing for farmers about the reorganization, announced earlier this month, is “it doesn’t add regulatory burden.”

She adds that “we’re hopeful the transition of the CFIA to the health department will be in keeping with strengthening food safety” and the balance between agricultural regulations and food safety policies can be maintained. “That’s the most important part.”

The government says in an Oct. 10 press release three federal agencies are responsible for food safety in Canada – Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, which both report to federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which used to report to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. CFIA has now joined the other two agencies in reporting to the health minister.

The reorganization will strengthen Canada’s food safety system by bringing all three authorities responsible for food safety under one minister, the release says. The change will ensure there is a clear focus, easy collaboration and timely communication on food safety between the three agencies. And it further emphasizes that CFIA considers food safety to be a top priority.

Ritz will continue to be responsible for CFIA’s agricultural activities that don’t include food safety, such as economics and trade matters, animal health and plant protection. Cronin says that makes sense.

She adds that she doesn’t have anything to indicate there would be more regulations for farmers now that CFIA reports to the health minister for food safety matters, but not adding to farmers’ regulatory burden is “definitely something that’s important to producers.”

The federal government has made food safety one of its priorities “and it’s also a priority for farmers. We know that we provide some of the best and safest food in the entire world right here in Canada; right in Ontario,” she says.

Spokespeople for other provincial farm groups agreed with Cronin the reorganization wouldn’t affect farmers.

LeaAnne Wuermli, spokesperson for Beef Farmers of Ontario, says “from what we know there will be no negative impact on farmers due to the change.”

Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Mark Wales says they’ll be watching to see if the implementation of the change is seamless. “The other thing we have to watch is how do they react in a future crisis, whether it’s a mad cow situation, or an avian flu or an outbreak of something we haven’t heard of yet, or a recall.”

He says they’ll be looking to see if CFIA and Health Canada reacts “in a manner that serves both farmers and society best.”

But on a normal day when there’s not a crisis, “quite frankly farmers probably aren’t going to notice” the reorganization, he adds.

The reorganization also won’t impact how the province works with CFIA. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food spokesman Mark Cripps says by email the CFIA “remains a key partner with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in ensuring food safety across Ontario” and the ministry looks forward to continuing its strong working relationship with the agency.

Lorne Small, president of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, called the reorganization an “interesting move.” It’s logical to have the three agencies responsible for Canadian food safety report to the same minister. The reorganization won’t affect farmers, he says.

The change is about food safety and “increasingly consumers are very concerned about it,” he notes.

Spokespeople for Dairy Farmers of Ontario couldn’t be reached for comment. BF