Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, just to clarify that, as drafted, the resource review provision would....the clock would begin ticking upon coming into force of the act. Therefore, if there was, for example, a delay of six months, in terms of coming into force, the clock would begin six months hence.

Agriculture committee  For example, it may take us six months to go through the regulatory process that's required by various sections of the act.

Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, if I may, the CFIA is subject to regular audits that are both internal to the government and also external. The agency is audited as a matter of course by international partners—various programs at various times. In addition to that, we have our own internal audit func

Agriculture committee  I would have to check, Mr. Chair, on the exact date, but I can tell you and the member that these are ongoing in fact. There have been audits as recently as this calendar year.

Agriculture committee  By the Auditor General, yes.

Agriculture committee  In short, Mr. Chair, the Auditor General has the discretion to choose what part of the agency's operation he audits. He will choose, based on his own priorities, different areas of the agency.

Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, the Auditor General focuses on performance audits and audits for financial comptrollership. It does not generally undertake resource audits of the nature I think you're suggesting. The scope of the Auditor General's activities are laid out in legislation that guides th

Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, I would say the CFIA's administrative procedure around how to handle cases of whistle-blowing is the place where the agency would most appropriately respond. While I have the microphone, Mr. Chair, I would just like to say that the examples the member pointed out of

Agriculture committee  No.

Agriculture committee  Perhaps I'll start, and then I'll ask Ms. Adair to follow up on some of the legal questions embedded in your question. First of all, I want to say that certainly if an employee in a food processing plant brought to the CFIA's attention matters with respect to food safety or othe

Agriculture committee  No, Mr. Chair.

Agriculture committee  The Criminal Code was amended in 2004 with general protection for employees who bring information forward to enforcement officials. That section is section 425.1. I'll ask Ms. Adair to reference it in a moment. I just would like to say that, in our view, the Criminal Code provis

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, I would say the fact that there is no “purpose” clause in the Safe Food for Canadians Act in this bill is consistent with the existing food commodities statutes. As the member points out, there is a risk that it might potentially limit the sc

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Chair. We've looked at this and we think the term “receptacle”, which is currently in the definition, does capture all types of containers, including pails, totes, and barrels. The definition has been drafted to encompass the various terms used in the current statute

Agriculture committee  It was tabled on June 17, I believe.