Stefanie Beck (DND photo) and Dr. Harpreet Kochhar (Uoguelph.ca).

Feds appoint new deputy ag minister, CFIA chief

Eleven senior civil servants shuffled

Canada’s government has lined up a new federal deputy minister for agriculture and a new president for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, both to take office later this month. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a shuffle in the top ranks of the public service involving 11 senior managers following four recent retirements. Associate […] Read more

Siddika Mithani — shown here in an illustration from a series of “superhero trading cards” published in 2022 featuring CFIA researchers and staff — has retired from her post as CFIA president. (CFIA via Twitter)

CFIA president retires

NFU calls for next agency boss to prevent 'regulatory capture'

Canada’s federal regulator for the food and animal and plant health sectors is in the market for a new president following the incumbent’s retirement. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed its president, Dr. Siddika Mithani, has retired from the federal public service effective Jan. 20. Mithani has led CFIA since February 2019, having served […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

CropLife not driving CFIA policy, agency says

NFU calls for CFIA head's ouster over 'indication of improper collaboration'

The National Farmers Union and a clutch of other organizations have asked Canada’s federal ag minister to replace the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, citing questions about the provenance of regulatory proposals on gene-edited seed. CFIA officials, however, reject the NFU’s allegation that the metadata attached to the proposal document in question may […] Read more

File photo of a CFIA vehicle. (Dave Bedard photo)

Avian flu circles back to Quebec

Saskatchewan's bird mingling ban held over

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu have returned to Quebec’s poultry sector after a lull of just over two months, while more Canadian cases continue to pile up at points west. Canada’s fall migratory season for wild birds appears to have led to the return of outbreaks in both commercial and backyard poultry flocks and […] Read more

File photo of piglets at a hog operation in China. (KuLouKu/iStock/Getty Images)

Federal funding lined up for programs, planning against swine fever

Two-year package to go toward pork industry work

The federal government is putting up an eight-figure funding wall to help prevent African swine fever from ever reaching Canada’s hog farms — and to prepare against any breach. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Aug. 26 the government will provide up to $45.3 million toward a three-pronged effort to boost disease prevention and preparedness: pork […] Read more


(Cavan Images/iStock/Getty Images)

Hepatitis A outbreak linked to organic strawberries

Cases reported in two provinces, three states

Washington | Reuters –– Food safety regulators in both Canada and the U.S. are investigating a hepatitis A outbreak potentially linked to tainted organic strawberries that has sickened 17 people in the U.S. and 10 in Canada, the agencies said. Fifteen illnesses were reported in California, and one each in Minnesota and North Dakota, the […] Read more

File photo of chicks on a genetic map of a chicken. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

High-path avian flu reaches Alaska

Canada books more cases in five provinces

U.S. federal animal health officials have confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock in southern Alaska, showing the extent of current outbreaks’ reach across North America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said Saturday it had confirmed the presence of high-path avian flu in a “non-poultry” backyard […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu hits more Alberta, Ontario poultry flocks

Alberta cases spread north, east

Three additional poultry flocks in central Alberta and one in eastern Ontario were confirmed over the weekend to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it had confirmed high-path H5N1 avian flu on Friday in a commercial poultry flock in Kneehill County, between Calgary and Red Deer, and […] Read more


File photo of chicks on a genetic map of a chicken. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu hits Alberta poultry farms

Three more poultry farms, one backyard flock also infected in Ontario

Three poultry flocks in central Alberta have now joined an expanding list of Canadian commercial poultry farms hit by highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Thursday it had confirmed high-path H5N1 avian flu on Wednesday in two commercial poultry flocks in Mountain View County, between Calgary and Red Deer, and in […] Read more

File photo of a migrating flock of snow geese in Canada. (Pchoui/iStock/Getty Images)

Eastern Canada books more avian flu cases

Backyard flock near Peterborough, wild birds in Quebec confirmed infected

Highly pathogenic avian influenza cases are turning up in new areas of Eastern Canada, with a backyard flock in central Ontario and a few wild birds in southern Quebec now confirmed infected. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Saturday confirmed high-path H5N1 avian flu in a backyard flock in the township of Selwyn, Ont., north […] Read more