The agency will continue to serve businesses needing on-site CFIA staff
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to close its district office in Moose Jaw, Sask., next spring and provide service from Regina.
However, Bill Jameson of JGL Livestock in Moose Jaw said CFIA has told him a veterinarian will still work in the city to provide the services his company needs.
“We’re probably the largest export staging point in Saskatchewan as far as cattle go,” he said.
“We absolutely need a CFIA veterinarian here. They have assured me that they’re going to keep an office here.”
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Export papers for cattle require an original signature by a CFIA vet.
A statement from CFIA media relations said the Moose Jaw office would close March 31 as the agency moved to consolidate services, improve efficiency in Saskatchewan and cut costs.
“Services currently provided through the Moose Jaw district office which can reasonably be provided by the district CFIA office in Regina will be moved to that location,” said the e-mail.
“Services in the Moose Jaw area that require the on-site presence of CFIA staff, such as the issuance of export certificates, will continue to be provided directly in the Moose Jaw area.”
The statement said CFIA would not make changes that would place the health and safety of Canadians at risk. CFIA did not say if other offices were closing or how much money the closure would save.
Jameson planned to meet this week with CFIA and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials in Ottawa to discuss the potential of electronic certification.
Pilot projects for electronic certification for export were supposed to be operating by next year, but Jameson said he thought it would be later than that.
The flow of cattle through Moose Jaw for export depends on market circumstances. Traffic is slow right now.
“When market conditions are right, there could be as many as 30, 40 trucks a day,” he said.
