Safe Food for Canadians Act S-11 Adopted by the Senate

Oct 18, 2012

New Food Act to Enhance Food Safety Inspection in Canada

The Safe Food for Canadian’s Act S-11 that was tabled last spring was adopted by the Senate on Wednesday. The Act seeks to modernize food safety and will provide the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) with more authority over inspection.

"Canadian consumers have always been our Government's top priority when it comes to food safety," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "This legislation demonstrates the Harper Government's commitment to strengthening Canada's food safety system and we hope this legislation is passed expeditiously by Members of Parliament."

Some of the specific enhancements include:

• More authority for CFIA inspectors to demand food producers to provide information and documents in a timely manner.
• CFIA authorities can demand that food processors have traceability systems in place as part of regulation requirements.
• Tougher penalties for food processors who don’t meet compliances.
• More control over imports and exports.
• More consistence inspection regime for all food commodities.

The Act was adopted with an amendment that would require the Minister of Agriculture to reassess resources that are allocated for food inspection on a five year basis and would also allow the Auditor General to review the allocation of these resources over the span of five year period at any time.

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.