Safe Food for Canadians Act before the House of Commons

Nov 14, 2012

Safe Food for Canadians Act in its Final Review and Third Reading

The Safe Foods for Canadians Act – Bill S-11 that was put forward by the Harper Government and was tabled on June 7, 2012, seeks to strengthen and modernize the country’s food safety system is in its final stage for passage. The Act was adopted by the Senate on Oct. 17, 2012 and last week, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Standing Committee completed its final review and sent it to the House of Commons for its third reading.

The new food act would enhance the way food safety is administered in Canada and will allow inspection and enforcement powers to be consistent across all food commodities. It will also give more powers to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, providing them with more authority to address food safety risks.

The key highlights of the Act include:

• Have tougher penalties for activities that put food safety and human health at risk
• Enhanced control over imported food commodities
• Implement a more consistent and rigorous inspection process for food commodities
• Strengthen food traceability initiatives

The Act has been a long time in the making and was a result of a recommendation that was outlined in a report that was published in 2009 following the 2008 Listeriosis outbreak. The report recommended that the government modernize the federal legislation that is related to food safety. The act will be vital to ensure that both food safety and consumer confidence remains a priority.

Video: How I Make Thousands of Soil Blocks Quickly (What Works and Why)

Soil blocking is one of the very first things I do each year as a new growing season gets underway. When you’re making thousands of soil blocks, having an efficient, repeatable process really matters.

In this video, I walk you through exactly how I make soil blocks in my greenhouse, from mixing the soil to getting the moisture just right to pressing and releasing a full 72-cell tray at a time. This is the system I rely on year after year as I gear up for a busy season growing peppers, tomatoes, herbs, and more. But even if you're just starting seeds for your backyard garden, this video will give you lots of soil blocking tips for your own set up.