OTTAWA, Ontario – Canada’s meat packing and processing industry welcomes investments in food safety and innovation in Budget 2017 that was tabled March 22.
“We were very pleased with the government’s commitment to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” said Christopher White, President and CEO of the Canadian Meat Council. “Food safety and the integrity of the system is paramount and we look for ways to continue to work with CFIA to deliver on their mandate.”
“CMC also welcomed the government’s commitment to deliver through Innovation Canada the six Economic Growth Strategy Tables, in particular agri food, which is of paramount importance to the industry,” added Mr. White.
“As the budget document noted, Canada is the world’s fifth largest agri food exporter. CMC is always looking to see our export markets grow in an increasingly competitive global market, and there are elements within the budget that will enable us to do so,” said Mr. White.
Canada’s meat processing industry includes 400 federally inspected establishments that not only provide safe, high quality protein for consumers, but also add jobs and contribute significantly to local economic activity in both rural and urban Canada. With annual sales of $28 billion, exports of $6.1 billion, and 66,330 jobs, the Canadian meat industry is the largest component of this country’s food processing sector.
The Canadian Meat Council has been representing Canada’s federally inspected meat processing industry since 1919.
Source: Canadian Meat Council
