Someone tweeted a link to this story a few days ago. The story happened in May, but it’s chilling in light of current events.

The Conservative government is pitching the change as a way to cut red tape and provide greater flexibility to slaughterhouse operators.

But the New Democrats are raising a red flag saying the move invites possible “contamination” of the food supply.

“Under the present regulations . . . it has to come in alive, be slaughtered on site,” said NDP MP Malcolm Allen (Welland), the party’s agriculture critic.

“Now you can bring in dead stock. It’s okay to bring in that animal into a slaughterhouse, have it cut, wrapped . . . for human consumption.

“The real fear is how did it die, (and) under what circumstances did it die.”

[…]“As for concerns that this amendment may allow unfit animal into the food supply system, this would not be the case.”

“CFIA inspectors, including veterinarians, are present daily during operations at federally registered establishments to verify that food safety requirements are met. All carcasses are individually inspected to protect the health and safety of Canadians,” he said in an email.

Considering the ongoing crazy-big beef recall which has been expanded YET AGAIN, is it any wonder Mulcair’s calling for the resignation of Ag minister Gerry Ritz? The government is not doing its job, and loosening restrictions that impede profit at the expense of safety as is the Conservatives’ MO is not exactly what I’d call protecting the health and safety of Canadians. Bad enough that under the current regime, the meat recall got as bad as it has. Could you imagine if they had to contend with yet more disease vectors?

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