Health Committee on April 30th, 2026

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

How many CFIA veterinarian positions at slaughterhouses are currently vacant today?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

We have 100% presence at the slaughterhouses. The veterinarian positions are always there.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

What province has the highest vacancy rate for CFIA veterinarians?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

Again, I'll have to come back to that. That data is not in front of me.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

In the last year, how many times did the CFIA have to reduce, delay or cancel inspections because no veterinarian was available?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

It is a very rare phenomenon that we would have to cancel. We generally plan everything.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Your time is up, Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

If you could table that, it would be great.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much.

We'll go now to Dr. Eyolfson for two minutes, please.

Go ahead.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Thank you, Dr. Kochhar.

We're talking about diversifying our markets. What is your agency's strategy for assisting in diversifying our markets so that there's better market access for our agricultural products abroad?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

Let me start by saying that Canada's ability to export food, animal and plant products is based on the very strong confidence that foreign regulators have in the Canadian regulatory inspection system, certification system and oversight system.

The CFIA provides that oversight, and we have the ability to have system verification with our trading partners. They come in here and verify our system, assess our system and assess an establishment, for example, for the meat. That gives them confidence.

We continue to build on that, and we are trying to expand into more markets. We have multiple markets that have been opened up lately.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Thank you, sir.

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

You have 45 seconds.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Part of our government's mandate is to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Could you explain how the CFIA will help to work to support internal trade within Canada?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

Specifically looking at internal trade, almost 61% of the food produced in Canada is moving around in the provinces. There are some parts where we have to get the producers to the safe food for Canadians licence level.

We have been able to give exemptions in, for example, unmet slaughter capacity. If there is a slaughter facility in, let's say, Ontario, and it has to be moved 500 kilometres to Quebec, they can use that exemption for that. We're using a lot of that to help them get to that point.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much.

On behalf of the honourable members of the committee, I would like to thank Dr. Kochhar for his time today.

I will briefly suspend the meeting, and we will welcome the second witness.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I call the meeting back to order.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. This is going back to the last hour.

There was a motion presented to bring back Mr. Green from Canada Health Infoway. You turned to the clerk and asked her to advise you if the motion was in order. I want to know what advice the clerk gave you. That's all I want to know.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

The only advice I asked from the clerk—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I'm not asking for the decision. I am asking for what advice the clerk gave you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I totally understood your point the first time, Mr. Mazier.

I'm going to tell you. I asked her whether Mr. Green was invited by name or by title. She showed me in bold letters what it said. It said that it was by designation.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

That's not what I'm asking, Chair. I'm asking if my motion was in order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

That was my decision. Every decision that I make is my final—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

She advised you that it was in order, then.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

She did not advise me. I cannot—