All-party committee set to probe meat crisis
February 13, 2009
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Robert Cribb
STAFF REPORTER
A parliamentary committee will investigate last summer's deadly listeria outbreak in what critics say is an open show of distrust towards the government's own probe.
In a unanimous decision yesterday, 11 parliamentarians from all parties voted to do what the federal government has not – conduct an open and transparent probe into the tainted-meat tragedy that killed at least 20 people and left hundreds, perhaps thousands, ill.
"This is a big improvement," said Bob Kingston, president of the agriculture union that represents federal meat inspectors. "Transparency is what's been missing from this from Day One."
A subcommittee of the federal agriculture committee will examine details of the outbreak – traced to a North York Maple Leaf plant last August – and look more broadly at the country's food safety net in order to understand how deadly errors happen and make recommendations for improvements.
The move comes amid growing controversy over the government's examination of the largest ever meat recall in Canadian history.
Last month, the federal Tories appointed Sheila Weatherill, former president and CEO of Edmonton's Capital Health Region, to lead a listeria probe set to end July 20. Her mandate was fiercely criticized by inspectors, academics and opposition politicians for being too secretive and limited. Weatherill's probe will be conducted behind closed doors and will have no power to subpoena witnesses.
The parliamentarians, by comparison, will have the authority to call witnesses to testify and produce documents.
Toronto Star