Flippant comments from federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz during the listeriosis outbreak could be the difference between a Conservative majority and a minority, says a University of Saskatchewan political scientist.
David McGrane said making light of food safety doesn’t play well in Ontario, where most of the recent listeriosis deaths have occurred. It could also affect Saskatchewan ridings.
That includes Ritz’s own Battlefords-Lloydminster riding, which has voted NDP in the past, and Palliser and Saskatoon Rosetown Biggar, which are without their Conservative incumbents.
“It reinforces an image the (Stephen) Harper government has of being a take-no-prisoners, brass knuckles kind of government,” McGrane said.
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Ritz apologized to the public and the affected families Sept. 18 after comments he made on an Aug. 30 conference call with officials were made public. The call related to contaminated meat from Maple Leaf Foods in Toronto, which is now responsible for 18 deaths.
During the call, Ritz joked about death by a thousand cold cuts. And when told there had been a death in Prince Edward Island, he said he hoped it was Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter.
Once leaked to the media, the comments resulted in a flurry of calls for Ritz to resign or for prime minister Harper to fire him.
Liberal leader Stéphane Dion said Ritz’s lack of sensitivity is unacceptable. He said Canadians have lost faith in the food safety system and he pledged a full inquiry reporting directly to Parliament.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal has already said the inquiry previously announced by Harper won’t go far enough.
NDP leader Jack Layton said Harper should show leadership and fire Ritz because no one has confidence in him.
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, which represents 1,800 workers in the food inspection system, also called for Ritz to be fired immediately.
“Crisis requires real leadership and Mr. Ritz is clearly not fit to lead,” said institute president Michele Demers in a news release.
But Harper stood by Ritz, saying the comments shouldn’t overshadow his other work.
“Look, minister Ritz understands clearly that these comments were completely insensitive and unacceptable and he has completely apologized,” Harper told reporters in Quebec City.
“I think this story is obviously very embarrassing for him, very unfortunate, but should not detract from the good work he has done to get on top and understand this matter.”
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The only Saskatchewan death from listeriosis this summer was an 82-year-old woman from Ritz’s riding. Her death has not been definitively linked to the Maple Leaf outbreak.
Her family has said it has mixed feelings about Ritz’s comments.
Ritz apologized for remarks he described as callous and inappropriate. He said he had apologized to Easter, who accepted the apology.
