Funny thing about the announcement by the federal government that they are going to increase the food inspection budget by $100 million - the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has just announced to BC that they are pulling out of domestic meat inspection - so how does that make our food safer? Who is going to do the inspecting now and who is going to pay for it? The provincial government doesn't want to pay for inspection in provincial plants - at least it looks like they don't . They are just conducting meetings and collecting submissions from affected stakeholders looking for solutions. Or at least looking like they are looking for solutions.

Federal government to bolster food inspection

Federal government to bolster food inspection

By Sarah Schmidt, Postmedia NewsMarch 22, 2011 5:20 PM

The Conservative government pledged Tuesday to boost spending on Canada's food inspection system by $100 million over the next five years.

Photograph by: Mark Blinch, Reuters

The Conservative government pledged Tuesday to boost spending on Canada's food inspection system by $100 million over the next five years.
The additional money for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is needed to fix problems flagged in 2009 in the wake of a deadly listeriosis outbreak, the government said.
Independent investigator Sheila Weatherill identified a series of food-safety gaps in Canada — including a void in leadership within the federal government — that helped contribute to a listeriosis outbreak in 2008 that left 22 Canadians dead.
They had all consumed tainted deli meats produced at a federally inspected plant in Toronto, operated by Maple Leaf Foods.
"This initiative will enable the Government to complete its response to all of the recommendations of the Weatherill Report through targeted investments in inspector training, additional science capacity, and electronic tools to support the work of front-line inspectors," the budget states.
Before Tuesday's announcement, the CFIA estimated a decrease in its budget for food safety and nutrition risks funding for this upcoming fiscal year compared to two years ago.
In 2009-10, the agency spent $270.5 million on food safety and nutrition risks. The CFIA's main estimates for 2011-12, published in February, estimated $258 million for food safety and nutrition risks funding.
Tuesday's $100-million pledge over five years to improve food inspection capacity comes after the government allocated another $75 million in 2009 to help implement Weatherill's recommendations.
The earlier money was shared among CFIA, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Following this initial investment in 2009, meat inspectors complained there still weren't enough front-line inspectors at processing plants.
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