‘Clearly targeting the livestock industry’: Beef with Alberta’s federal pandemic bill

The Alberta government and meat producers are concerned that a bill to prevent and prepare for future outbreaks could harm the agriculture industry.

“While we support the overall intent of Bill C-293, we have significant concerns in its current form,” said Doug Roxburgh, vice president of the Alberta Beef Producers.

“Bill C-293 clearly targets the livestock industry,” said Alberta Pork board member Sandra Spruit.

Bill C-293 is a private member’s bill on pandemic prevention and preparedness, but some are concerned it targets farmers and ranchers and think it could suggest phasing out the livestock and meat industry.

“There are no clear targets. The language here is extremely dangerous,” said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson.

The bill states:

• Reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance;
• Regulation of industrial animal agriculture;
• Promoting the production of alternative proteins; And
• Phase out activities involving high-risk species.

“It’s unreasonably risky activities, and I had mink farming in mind. BC has phased that out,” Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith said.

Erskine-Smith introduced the bill in 2022.

The goal, he says, is not to end animal agriculture but to ensure that future governments take pandemic prevention and preparedness seriously.

“Experts will tell you that global travel also carries the risk of infectious disease. No one in their right mind is talking about ending global travel or animal agriculture. This is about managing and reducing risks in these important sectors,” Erskine-Smith said. he said.

The bill states that the framework will be determined after consultation with federal ministers and provincial governments, but the Alberta government is concerned about these statements.

“Loose language is open to dangerous interpretation and abuse,” said Health Minister Adriana LaGrange.

He says some of the issues targeted by this bill are already covered by other legislative bodies.

The producers also agree.

“These substances have the potential to cause serious harm to our industry and Canadian food safety,” Roxburgh said.

“We are asking the Senate to change this so that farmers are not exposed to unnecessary risks and restrictions,” said David Hyink, president of Alberta Chicken Producers.

Erskine-Smith said she was always open to changes and was curious about the timing of the province’s announcement ahead of Premier Danielle Smith’s leadership review.

“Partisan politics, leadership races and leadership evaluations don’t always allow us to get to that point, but hopefully we’ll get to a more thoughtful point as a country where we can say how we’re going to do the best we can to manage risks and, yes, protect important economic sectors like livestock,” Erskine said. Smith.

Bill C-293 entered second reading in the Senate on October 22.

This stage usually sends the bill to a committee for review before deciding whether to proceed.

“It is critical that farm families in Alberta can continue to operate without unnecessary restrictions while ensuring Canada remains well prepared for future pandemics,” Hyink said. he said.