For
Immediate Release
May 18, 2005
Queen’s Park –By allowing meat inspectors
to become part of a union, Steve Peters, Minister of Agriculture and
Food has put food safety in grave danger said Ernie Hardeman, Conservative
Agriculture Critic and MPP for Oxford. Hardeman today in the Legislature,
called on the Minister of Agriculture to take responsibility for the
results of his actions.
“Meat inspectors of Ontario are in a position to strike and will
in effect bring the processing of meat in provincial abattoirs to a
halt,” stated Hardeman. “This certainly is not what beef
farmers’ who are already reeling from the effects of BSE need.
Hardeman asked the Minister what he was going to do to help farmers,
the provincial abattoirs and their employees when the meat inspectors
go on strike? It was obvious in his response that the Agriculture Minister
doesn’t have a plan. Peters did nothing to re-assure farmers and
meat processors or their employees that the McGuinty government would
protect this industry during a public service work stoppage.
“What I hear from the Independent Meat processors is that you
don’t consider Meat Inspection essential service and your essential
services agreement only includes 16 meat inspectors,” stated Ernie.
“I also understand that these 16 meat inspectors won’t be
ensuring the safety of the meat slaughter instead they will travel the
province to make sure that not one of the 192 plants is conducting slaughter.”
Hardeman pointed out that the meat packers in this province were not
interested in the Agriculture Minister’s opinion of previous governments;
“what they would like is an answer, what are they supposed to
do if, through no fault of their own, they cannot open their processing
plant.”
HANDSARD – WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2005
MEAT INSPECTION
Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): My question is to the
Minister of Agriculture and Food. Minister, meat inspectors in Ontario
are in a position to strike and will, in effect, bring the processing
of meat and provincial abattoirs to a halt. By allowing meat inspection
to become part of the union, you have actually put food safety in grave
danger. This certainly is not what beef farmers who are already reeling
from the effects of BSE need.
Minister, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Independent
Meat Packers and Processors both expressed concern when you made a purely
political move and brought meat inspectors back into the Ontario public
service. Now that we are faced with the real possibility of a strike,
we ask the Minister of Agriculture to take responsibility for the results
of his actions. Minister, what are you going to do to help the farmers,
the provincial abattoirs and their employees when the meat inspectors
go on strike?
Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Agriculture and Food):
I’m very disappointed in the question, because there are ongoing
negotiations that are taking place, and I think the member is being
a little presumptuous.
I would say, when it comes to food safety, it has been a number-one
priority in this government. Unlike the previous government, the previous
minister who raced around back roads of Huron county, running away from
reporters in dealing with food safety issues, we’re not afraid
to run away from food safety issues, unlike a government that in 2001
passed the Food Safety and Quality Act and sat on it, and sat on it,
and sat on it. It did not do anything for food safety in this province.
They turned their back on food safety. We weren’t prepared to
do that.
As well, we saw unprecedented turnover in meat inspectors in this province.
In excess of 30% of our meat inspectors were turning over because the
previous government had privatized that service. We recognize the importance
of that service, and we brought those individuals back into the public
sector.
Mr. Hardeman: I just want to point out, the meat packers
in this province are not interested in ...
L148-1510-18 follows
(Hon Mr. Peters)
We recognize the importance of that service, and we brought those individuals
back into the public sector.
1510
Mr. Hardeman: I just want to point out that the meat
packers in this province are not interested in your opinion of previous
governments; what they would like is an answer, what they’re supposed
to do if, through no fault of their own, they cannot open their processing
plant.
Minister, the Ontario Independent Meat Packers have asked you to deem
meat inspection an essential service. What I hear from the independent
meat processors is that you don’t consider meat inspection an
essential service and your essential service agreement only includes
16 meat inspectors. I understand that these 16 meat inspectors won’t
be ensuring the safety of meat slaughtered; instead, they will travel
the province and make sure that not one of the 192 plants is conducting
slaughter.
Minister, again, what are you going to do to help our farmers and meat
processors to avoid financial devastation if there is a work stoppage
in the civil service? Could you please answer the meat processors in
the province on what you intend to do if the strike puts them out of
business. Mr. Minister, if you would please help them and inform them.
Don’t tell us what you think, tell us what you’re going
to do.
Hon. Mr. Peters: I would like to refer this question
to the Chair of Management Board, please.
Hon. Gerry Phillips (Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet):
Let me inform the member opposite what we are doing. We very much value
our public service. We thought it was a big mistake to privatize the
meat inspectors, and we brought them back in.
Where we are putting our time and attention is to reaching a fair and
equitable agreement with our employees. That is where I’m devoting
my energy.
As I say, we value our public servants. We are dedicated to reaching
a fair collective agreement with them and we’re dedicated to,
at the same time, preserving the safety of our meat in the province,
the safety of our institutions.
I would just say to the member, it was a big mistake to privatize those
inspectors. We have brought them back into the public service. We are
dedicating our time and energy to reaching a fair and equitable agreement
with our employees, and that is what we intend to do.
Contact
Ernie Hardeman MPP Oxford
416-325-1239
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