Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture says that the CFIA was just too nice to XL Foods. Hence, the CFIA had the power to call that delinquent firm to account but did not do so.
Food contamination persisted for more than a month. Over 2,000 products had to be recalled. Sixteen people got sick. Cattle producers and others absorbed big losses.
Since the minister himself knew of the problem by September 5, why was he also too nice in doing nothing to fix it? How can he and CFIA now lead a review when they are clearly part of the problem?