A constitutional lawyer said a private member’s bill that would penalize those who illegally enter livestock barns is outside federal legislative jurisdiction. Dr. Jodi Lazare, associate professor at Dalhousie University’s law school, said the bill that purports to protect biosecurity is actually a trespass bill, and trespass is dealt with by provincial laws. She told […] Read more
Tag Archives Biosecurity
Ag committee studies federal trespasser bill
Agriculture critic John Barlow’s private member’s bill to fine trespassers who enter barns or properties where animals are kept is now under scrutiny at the House of Commons’ agriculture committee. Bill C-275 would amend the Health of Animals Act. “Simply put, this enactment would apply existing penalties within the act to people who trespass on […] Read more
Producers to receive pest aid
Saskatchewan has rolled out its pest biosecurity program for the next five years. The $19.5 million program covers plant concerns such as clubroot, prohibited and noxious weeds, gophers, beavers and rats. It is funded by the province and Ottawa and will be delivered by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. It funds a plant health […] Read more
Agriculture committee begins hearings on biosecurity
Members of Parliament are told that the avian influenza outbreak underscores the urgent need for plans and protocols
Government officials say Canada is prepared for potential animal disease outbreaks, even though there were delays in dealing with some cases of avian influenza. Speaking to MPs during the standing agriculture committee’s first meeting on animal biosecurity, chief veterinary officer Dr. Mary Jane Ireland said stringent safeguards are in place, including science-based import controls at […] Read more
Biosecurity still works as PRRS threat evolves
The porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome of today isn’t the PRRS of the mid-2000s, but some defences can still fend off unnecessary outbreaks. Iowa State University veterinary disease expert Daniel Linhares said there are still “some opportunities to break the chain” of PRRS transmission through biosecurity measures many people ignore. For instance, many operators aren’t careful […] Read more
Hog producers urged to get their flu shot
Hog farmers seldom think about it, but the flu is a disease risk for which protection is easy and cheap. “Getting your flu shot is a three-way win,” Jenelle Hamblin, manager of swine health with the Manitoba Pork Council, said at the organization’s Niverville regional meeting Nov. 1. “You’re protecting yourself. You’re protecting the general […] Read more
Biosecurity bill re-introduced
Alberta Conservative MP John Barlow has re-introduced legislative amendments to protect biosecurity on farms. The federal agriculture critic had presented his private member’s bill in the last Parliament, but it died at the election call last summer. Barlow said Bill C-275 would amend the Health of Animals Act. “This is very fitting with what we […] Read more
Biosecurity bill re-introduced
Alberta Conservative MP John Barlow has re-introduced legislative amendments to protect biosecurity on farms. The federal agriculture critic had presented his private member’s bill in the last Parliament, but it died at the election call last summer. Barlow said Bill C-275 would amend the Health of Animals Act. “This is very fitting with what we […] Read more
Cow-calf operations can improve biosecurity practices
COVID-19 restrictions are being relaxed. We have all learned great lessons and it will be interesting to see what biosecurity measures stand the test of time. From masks used in some situations, to workers and patrons protected in restaurants by plexiglass, these are all good measures for any communicable diseases. Recently, a research article has […] Read more
New survey focuses on plant biosecurity
Most livestock producers in Canada are vigilant about biosecurity, especially hog and poultry producers, who must keep diseases like African swine fever and avian influenza out of their barns. But what are Canada’s grain farmers doing to ward off plant diseases like clubroot? What practices are they using to limit the spread of problematic weeds […] Read more
