Ottawa (Rural Roots Canada) – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is cutting jobs as part of an ongoing, government-wide expenditure review, according to the union representing CFIA employees.
In a release, the Agriculture Union says it “categorically denounces” the cuts, which it says will lead to a “looming food safety crisis” in Canada.
The union says employees were called into a meeting on Tuesday, where they were told some 1,371 jobs would be affected by employment transition measures, with 587 cut altogether. The union says the already struggling agency can’t absorb the cuts, and is calling on the government to change course.
“When you make cuts to food safety, the outcomes are clear. More people will get sick from preventable foodborne illnesses, more poultry and livestock will die from avian flu and other diseases, and our food production industry will suffer,” says Milton Dyck, National President of the Agriculture Union. “Our members at CFIA care for the health and well-being of plants and animals and make sure the food on your plate is safe to eat. They deserve more than these reckless cuts. Canadians deserve more.”
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The union says that while the federal public service grew by 30% in recent years, staffing levels at the CFIA have declined by 3% over the last decade.
“Fewer CFIA inspectors means fewer frontline workers to catch food that should be recalled,” adds Dyck. “And food recalls increased by 150% over the last decade. You can do math, and it doesn’t look good. Food safety experts have been warning us that CFIA can’t take any more hits, but the government isn’t listening.”
In a statement to Rural Roots Canada, the CFIA confirms 587 jobs will be slashed.
“Like other federal departments, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has identified savings as part of the Government of Canada’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review,” it reads. “From the outset, the agency set out to protect front-line inspection capacity and emergency readiness and remain focused on our core mandate of food safety, animal and plant health, science, and enabling international trade.”
“The reductions reflect these principles and focus on targeted changes to program delivery, operational efficiencies, and reinvestments in front-line capacity,” it adds. “As a result of these reductions, this means approximately 587 positions will be eliminated.”
The CFIA says it remains focused on protecting food safety, managing animal and plant health risks, and maintaining strong emergency readiness.
Read the full CFIA statement below:
Like other federal departments, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has identified savings as part of the Government of Canada’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review.
From the outset, the agency set out to protect front-line inspection capacity and emergency readiness and remain focused on our core mandate of food safety, animal and plant health, science, and enabling international trade.
The reductions reflect these principles and focus on targeted changes to program delivery, operational efficiencies, and reinvestments in front-line capacity.
The CFIA will remain focused on:
- protecting food safety
- managing animal and plant health risks
- using sound science and evidence
- prioritizing actions based on risk and impact
- maintaining strong emergency readiness
- supporting businesses and enabling trade through clear, predictable regulation
As a result of these reductions, this means approximately 587 positions will be eliminated.
