As thousands of XL Foods meat products are being pulled from the market because of E. coli contamination fears, opposition New Democrats insist that agriculture minister Gerry Ritz’s best before date also has expired.
The party is sponsoring an online petition, collecting citizen signatures calling for the minister to resign.
It will be presented to Parliament.
The preamble says that while the largest beef recall in history is happening, “his policies are responsible for drastically weakening meat inspections” and that he knew about the E. coli problem at the XL Brooks plant before Canadians were informed.
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“He is refusing to be accountable to Canadians,” says the petition on the federal NDP website. “Therefore, we call upon the minister of agriculture to resign from his duties immediately.”
Leader Thomas Mulcair has repeatedly noted that during Ritz’s five years on the job, Canadians have faced two major food scares — the deadly listeria incident involving Maple Leaf Foods products in 2008 and the current E. coli outbreak.
Despite government claims to the contrary, the NDP insists Conservatives are allowing the food industry to “self-regulate” food inspection while government inspectors mainly oversee and audit their performance.
“Canadians have lost confidence in the minister,” agriculture critic Malcolm Allen said this week. “They’re tired of Conservative excuses and inaction and it’s time for him to step down.”
The opposition attacks will step up Oct. 15 when Parliament resumes sitting after a week break.
Opposition MPs are expected to resume their food safety line of attack, keeping Ritz in the spotlight.
