Agriculture committee  I can't speak for what's inside their heads, but I would suspect they're very focused on the number one priority, which is the safety of food and the safety of all Canadians. In my mind, the focus and idea behind these enhancements in Bill S-11 is to provide the people who are on the front line a better way of being able to do their jobs.

Agriculture committee  Okay, but that defined role isn't whimsical in nature. As I mentioned to Mr. Fruitman, that defined role is based on science, based on working with the manufacturers. It's throughout the complete chain. They didn't just stick their fingers up in the air one day and say that maybe they should do this.

Agriculture committee  It's realistic and logical to think, though, that an organization as large as the CFIA, which encompasses thousands of employees, would have the ability to do both jobs. We're talking of thousands of employees, so it's not very reasonable to suppose that this couldn't be done.

Agriculture committee  Yes, I mean in its current form.

Agriculture committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the guests who are here today. My first question has to do with Mr. Fruitman's comments. You commented about breaking up the CFIA—I think that's what you said—or splitting it off. Where does that idea come from?

Agriculture committee  To be honest, though, if you're looking strictly at the inspection functions at a processing plant, the entire inspection function would be based on science, working with manufacturers of the equipment throughout the entire chain to make logical decisions so that the inspectors who work in plant X are able to do the job that's required to provide food safety.