Press Release
Reality Check
Mar 17th, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 March, 2010
Ottawa — Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz’s appearance before the Agriculture Committee this afternoon will be an opportunity for the Minister to set the record straight on inspection of ready-to-eat meats produced for Canadian consumers.
On Monday, the Minister misinformed the House of Commons. He said that plants that make ready-to-eat meat exclusively [...]
Canadian meat inspection inadequate: USDA
Mar 15th, 2010
Minister Ritz has failed to deliver promised new investments for food safety
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 March, 2010
Ottawa – Canada has been quietly called out for inadequate inspection of meat processing plants by the US Food and Drug Administration which has demanded that Canada increase its inspection frequency in order to meet US safety standards and continue [...]
PHANTOM TRUCKS SHOW NEW MEAT INSPECTION REGIME NOT WORKING: New Democrats Masse and Allen say safety of Canada’s food at risk
Feb 12th, 2010
NDP Press Release
WINDSOR – New Democrat Border Critic Brian Masse (Windsor-West) says disturbing new information about trucks carrying imported meats that are failing to report for inspections shows that the Harper government’s new food-safety regime simply isn’t working.[More...]
Food safety report sets a prudent course on inspector shortage
Jun 18th, 2009
Ottawa – The federal government should move quickly to implement recommendations concerning food inspection resources contained in a report tabled in Parliament this morning, according to the Agriculture Union – PSAC, which represents government food inspectors.
Following two months of public hearings, the parliamentary food safety committee expressed concern about the inspector shortage and CFIA’s inability [...]
Meat safety inspection spread too thin
May 25th, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – A new staffing survey shows the critical shortage of inspectors in meat processing plants in Canada continues to make it impossible for federal inspectors to verify industry compliance with safety rules.
“These numbers show an inspectorate staffed far below minimum levels. With individual inspectors being in charge of five facilities on average [...]
Canadians place food safety trust in government – Nanos poll
May 20th, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa (20 May 2009) – The vast majority of Canadians want government to step in and play a much more active role to ensure food safety because they don’t trust industry to do the job, according to a new Nanos survey.
Seven in ten Canadians believe Ottawa should invest more resources and be more [...]
McCain’s food safety fix requires more inspectors
Apr 20th, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – Michael McCain’s pitch today to retain food industry self-inspection with tougher and uniformly applied safety rules requires more government oversight and inspection, according to the food inspector’s union.
“Canadians want government safety inspectors verifying that companies like Maple Leaf are following the rules. After last summer, who can blame them for their [...]
Inspectors call for Parliamentary Investigation into Food Safety
Jan 20th, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – Canada’s food inspectors’ union is urging Parliamentarians to step in and conduct an investigation into the listeriosis outbreak last summer that left at least 20 Canadians dead after eating contaminated Maple Leaf cold cuts.
“We welcome, with reservations, today’s appointment of Sheila Weatherill to conduct the Prime Minister’s investigation of the outbreak. [...]
