Recruitment for a new Ontario chief veterinarian begins soon

Thursday, July 23, 2015

by SUSAN MANN

Paul Innes, the former lead veterinarian/ provincial biosecurity at the provincial agriculture ministry is the new acting chief veterinarian for Ontario replacing Greg Douglas.

Recruitment for the provincial chief veterinarian/animal health and welfare branch director position will begin soon, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson Susin Micallef says by email.

Douglas was both chief vet and animal health and welfare branch director. But for now Innes is the acting chief vet while Kelly McAslan is acting branch director, Micallef says.

Ontario’s chief veterinarian position was created in 2005.
 
Douglas was appointed vice president of animal care for Maple Leaf Foods. The July 20 announcement from Maple Leaf says Douglas will work closely with Maple Leaf’s pork and poultry operations and with the company’s varied stakeholders, such as customers, non-government organizations and governments, to develop and support a “comprehensive animal wellness strategy, disciplines and policies.”

Douglas has served more than 10 years in the public service, including with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as Saskatchewan’s chief veterinarian and most recently as Ontario’s chief veterinarian. As the province’s chief veterinarian from March 2012 to June, Douglas was responsible for leading the management of Ontario’s animal health policy along with program development and delivery. He was also chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Veterinary Officers.

Douglas was appointed to his position at Maple Leaf Foods after an extensive North American recruitment process, the release says.

Maple Leaf is a leading consumer protein company that employs about 12,000 people across Canada and exports to more than 20 markets globally, including the United States and Asia. Its head office is in Mississauga and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. BF