“Twenty-two people died in this country. That cannot be swept under the rug.”
- Wayne Easter on June 18, 2009
The listeria crisis from last year just isn’t going away. Rightfully so. Hundreds became ill and 22 Canadians died. The Conservative government’s response has been appallingly unmanaged and disrespectful. Now, they are pushing against a closer look at the effectiveness of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The Parliamentary Agriculture Committee is calling for a full public inquiry into the fatal 2008 listeriosis outbreak. Opposition parties are also pushing for a comprehensive review of resources required to properly and safely conduct food-inspections in Canada.
The final report was not signed by the Conservative MPs who continue to insist the the Canadian Food Inspection Agency [CFIA] has “the necessary resources to do their job.”
Training and staffing remain key issues. Earlier this month, it was reported that CFIA hired 57 new inspectors, none of whom are dedicated to meat inspection. This contradicts an earlier commitment by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, made at a Maple Leaf plant in Toronto, following the listeriosis deaths last summer. I remain just astounded that Ritz remains in this cabinet post.
The gradual elimination of decentralized, small-scale meat production and processing facilities has made food safety a critical public health issue for Canadians. Obviously, this deficit-mad government has the resources available — so where are the “boots on the ground” for food safety?
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Perhaps their favourite phrase “shovel ready” is more appropriate for the Canadian government’s take on food safety. In the sense that they are ready to shovel shit as fast as they can.