Parliamentary probe in full public view
OTTAWA – NDP Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko, MP, (BC Southern Interior) recently proposed a motion to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee to create a sub-committee with the authority to investigate food safety in Canada as a response to the listeriosis tragedy last summer which claimed 20 lives. The motion was passed by all Committee Members on Thursday, February 12, 2009.
This special committee will include Members of Parliament from the House of Commons Agriculture and Health Committees. While the terms of the sub-committee have not yet been set it will have the power to subpoena any witnesses necessary in order to get to the bottom of the recent failures in Canada’s food system.
“Members of Parliament will now be able to conduct a thorough investigation into Canada’s food safety” stated Atamanenko. “Given the government’s recent moves to deregulate our food inspection system by handing over this duty to the industry it is important that any investigation remain in the public domain.”
Last August Prime Minister Harper appointed Sheila Weatherill, the former head of Edmonton’s regional health authority, to conduct an investigation into the listeriosis outbreak at the Maple Leaf meat processing plant based in Toronto. Critics have pointed out that Weatherill cannot credibly assess how public safeguards failed given the fact that she already serves on a government advisory committee whose mandate is to brand the public service as a ‘trusted and innovative institution of national importance’.
It is my view that Canadians will be much better served through the public and transparent process which will now take place.” concluded the NDP agriculture critic. “Canadians deserve no less”.