New Studies by House of Commons Agriculture Committee

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food is undertaking two new studies. The first is a study of Animal Biosecurity Preparedness, which is looking at the preparedness and safeguards in place from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and industry in the case of biosecurity threats to agriculture such as the avian flu, African swine fever, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth disease and other potential threats to food security. They intended to look at components such as the vaccine bank, veterinary needs, and reciprocity of standards at our borders. A report will be published at the conclusion of the study.

The second is a study of the Closure of the Olymel Processing Plant in Vallée-Jonction to examine the repercussions this closure will have on the pork industry, animal welfare, food security and on the labor force both foreign and domestic in Québec and in Ontario. The committee is inviting testimony from Olymel L.P., Sollio Cooperative Group, the Canadian Pork Council, Les Éleveurs de porcs du Québec, Ontario Pork and officials from the Department of Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship. Following the study, the committee will prepare a letter addressed to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food.