OTTAWA – When the new Canadian food inspection agency forms next April 1, it will be expected to fulfil an unusual instruction from Parliament.
Unless the government changes its mind during the next several weeks, the legislation will require the agency to deliver its services “in a cost effective manner.”
The House of Commons agriculture committee last week added those words to the legislation after listening to many witnesses worry the agency will become a costly enterprise that will pass those costs onto farmers.
“This will help make the agency a bit more responsible,” said Saskatchewan Reform MP Elwin Hermanson, who proposed the amendment.
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Its approval was a surprise, since opposition amendments to make the new agency more accountable to Parliament, the agriculture committee or the food industry were defeated routinely by the Liberal majority on committee.
The Liberals accepted arguments from officials that the agency will be accountable through the agriculture minister, review of its annual report by Parliament and review of its books and performance by the federal auditor general.
At the end of the committee study of the legislation, Hermanson moved his proposal to add to the preamble: “The government of Canada wishes to have that food inspection agency deliver those services in a cost-effective manner.”
The vote was called.
Hermanson and Bloc QuŽbecois MP Jean-Guy ChrŽtien voted for it. Then Liberal Wayne Easter raised his hand.
Then Brandon, Man. Liberal Glen McKinnon raised his hand.
Chair Lyle Vanclief asked for no votes. The three remaining Liberals raised their hands. Others had already left. The vote was won 4-3.
When the bill is debated again in the Commons, the BQ plans to introduce other amendments to make the agency more closely accountable to Parliament.
The Liberals already have indicated they plan to defeat those proposals.
National standards
Meanwhile, the federal auditor general has praised the federal-provincial effort to create a new food inspection agency and to work toward national standards.
In 1994, Denis Desautels raised concerns that there are no national standards for food inspection and that government responsibility for the issue is confused by overlapping departmental jurisdictions.
Last week, the auditor general tabled a report which called the decision to create a single agency a “significant achievement” because it will combine work done now by three departments.
It should “streamline” inspection and help create a “more integrated national system of food inspection,” said Desautels.
Still, he warned Health Canada and the new agency to make sure efficiencies are captured “and that the checks and balances in the system are maintained and strengthened.”
He also renewed a call for the government to collect more of the cost of food inspection from the industries affected.
Despite food industry complaints that user fees are getting out of hand, Desautels believes the goal of recovering 20 percent of costs is too modest and the industry should be asked to pay more for services that provide “a direct benefit.”
