TORONTO – Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz insists he is not admitting defeat.
However, it is clear the federal-provincial deadline for establishing a national livestock traceability system in 2011 won’t be met.
After a one-day meeting last week, federal and provincial agriculture ministers renewed their commitment to a traceability system and said much progress has been made and close to $40 million committed to the project.
However, it remains a work in progress, and Ritz told a news conference that political events this year could slow down implementation.
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“I’m not throwing the towel in yet. I never do,” he said.
“We’ve got all kinds of time yet. I guess when you look at the number of provincial elections that are going to happen next fall, you look at the potential of a federal election, which is not necessary, certainly could throw a wrench into it. Things slow down over those writ periods and timelines.”
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has always been critical of the short traceability implementation period set by the ministers.
And after the Feb. 11 meeting, Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud, skeptical from the beginning and the only minister to favour voluntary compliance, said talk of deadlines has slipped from the discussion.
He said progress has been made, with the hog sector the most advanced.
“It is coming down the road.”
Bjornerud acknowledged that the window is closing on any chance that his idea of a voluntary system will be adapted.
“But I don’t think there is a definitive day when it has to happen. We’re trying to help our producers to get to that point without forcing them. We’re still talking about 2011, but we’re already here. I’m thinking of 2012, 2013. I think we’ll be up and running with a lot of it by then.”
Ritz said a big part of the challenge has been convincing farmers that it is in their best interests.
“We’re still buoyed by the fact that it is doable,” he said. “You know, where the rubber meets the road is selling this to farmers to make sure that they realize they are not just going to get the bill for this.”
He said it will help secure access to foreign markets and allow Canada to limit trade disruptions if a domestic disease outbreak occurred by quickly identifying the source.
Ritz said Ottawa has invested close to $40 million to encourage development of a system.
It includes $7 million for the Canadian Pork Council’s PigTrace Canada, including $3.7 million announced last week.
On Feb. 14, he also announced $252,000 to help the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association develop traceability programs.
He said the CCA is suggesting that tagging in feedlots for data collection could get the sector “90 percent there by the end of this year.”
However, a database to store all the information and make it available when needed still has not been developed.
“We’re working on that already.”
