Archived - 2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report

On this page

• Minister's message
• Results at a glance and operating context
• Results: what we achieved
  • Core responsibility: safe food and healthy plants and animals
    • Departmental result 1: food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented to Canadians
    • Departmental result 2: plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pests and are safe for Canadians and the environment
    • Departmental result 3: Canadian food, plants and animals and their associated products can be traded internationally
  • Internal services
• Analysis of trends in spending and human resources
  • Actual expenditures
  • Actual human resources
  • Expenditures by vote
  • Government of Canada spending and activities
  • Financial statements and financial statements highlights
• Additional information
  • Corporate information
    • Organizational profile
    • Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
    • Reporting framework
  • Supporting information on the program inventory
  • Supplementary information tables
  • Federal tax expenditures
  • Organizational contact information
• Appendix: definitions

2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report

Download the entire report

(PDF format, 1,763 kb, 48 pages)

Organization: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

ISBN: 2561-0775

The original version was signed by

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, PC, MP, Minister of Health

For the period ending March 31, 2020

Minister's message

As the Minister of Health, I am pleased to present the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) 2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report.

CFIA is a science-based regulatory agency, with employees working across Canada – in the National Capital Region (NCR) and in the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Western regions.

CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, animal and plant health, which enhances the health and well-being of Canadians, the environment, and our economy.

CFIA develops and delivers inspection and other services to: prevent and manage food safety risks; protect plant resources from pests, diseases and invasive species; to prevent and manage animal and zoonotic diseases; contribute to consumer protection; and to contribute to market access for Canada's food, plants, and animals. CFIA bases its activities on science, effective management of risk, commitment to service and efficiency, and collaboration with domestic and international organizations that share its objectives.

The global food chain continues to change rapidly, requiring significant changes in production and distribution environments as a result of increased consumer demands for diverse, innovative choices as well as meaningful information about products. Technological and scientific advances are proceeding rapidly and regulators are challenged to keep pace with innovations in the marketplace. The Government of Canada introduced the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, which CFIA enforces, to modernize Canada's food safety system by introducing more rigorous risk management practices and an increased focus on traceability. These new regulations serve to further safeguard Canada's food supply and enhance the health and well-being of consumers by simplifying and strengthening rules for food produced here or imported into the country.

With the implementation of these regulations, several businesses had to meet Safe Food for Canadians Regulations requirements as of January 15, 2019: meat, fish and seafood, dairy, eggs and processed egg products, processed fruits or vegetables, maple and honey. These sectors were previously registered or licensed by CFIA. Since some of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations requirements were new to the fresh fruits and vegetables sector, businesses in the sector had extra time to comply.

Budget 2019 investments have enabled CFIA to combine efforts with Health Canada to prevent, detect and deter instances of food misrepresentation – or food fraud – by mitigating the risks that present health and safety risks. The Food Policy for Canada initiative advances a risk-informed approach to combat food fraud that serves to protect consumers, benefit businesses and further enhance Canada's reputation in a global marketplace.

CFIA has also been leading the Government of Canada's efforts to raise awareness about plant health alongside other federal departments and international partners during the United Nations-designated International Year of Plant Health 2020. Plant health is essential to both human and animal health, as well as to our environment and economy. CFIA works proactively with partners to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests in Canada and globally.

As for animal health, CFIA continues to work diligently with domestic and international partners to keep animals safe from diseases of concern, such as African swine fever, and to prepare for this disease in the event it does cross our border. CFIA also continues to modernize regulations. Following many years of consultation, February 2020 saw the coming into force of the transportation of animals requirements under the Health of Animals Regulations to improve the well-being of animals during the entire transportation process.

To support market access and a strong and predictable trade environment for Canada, CFIA continues to pursue improved international standards, fairness in trade practices, enhanced use of technology by international partners and regulatory cooperation.

CFIA has also made significant contributions to Canada's COVID-19 pandemic response. As the Government of Canada led the work to address the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19, CFIA worked diligently with partners and stakeholders at all levels, on both domestic and international stages, to assist in Canada's response to the pandemic as it developed. This agency has continued to perform the critical activities and deliver needed services to preserve the integrity of Canada's food safety system, so that Canadians have continued to have access to safe food during this difficult time.

I want to thank the CFIA employees, who continue to go above and beyond. To learn more about how CFIA serves Canadians, I invite you to read the 2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, PC, MP
Minister of Health

Results at a glance and operating context

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is a science-based regulatory agency that is responsible for safeguarding Canada's food supply, protecting Canada's plant and animal resource base from pests and diseases, and facilitating the international trade of food, plants, animals and related products. CFIA's work enhances the health and well-being of Canadians, the environment and our economy.

In 2019 to 2020, CFIA continued to build on important work done to respond to its current operating environment while preparing for the future. Key highlights include:

• Modernizing its regulatory toolkit by amending various regulations that CFIA is responsible for administering and enforcing, including: regulations related to food labelling requirements, which will create opportunities for innovation and increased trade while providing consumers with more information to guide purchasing decisions; and, regulations related to hatcheries and supply flocks, which allows the requirements for the sector to control food pathogens such as salmonella to keep pace with advances in scientific knowledge and technology while supporting international trade. Past regulatory amendments came into force this year, including new requirements that enhance the safety of Canada's fresh fruit and vegetable supply and regulations overseeing the well-being of animals while being transported
• Refining CFIA's national inspection approach to streamline procedures for inspectors, improve the quality of inspections and information collected, and enhance consistency for the regulated parties being inspected
• Equipping regulated parties with a full range of electronic services and information to comply with regulations by adding additional services to MyCFIA – an online entry point that allows people who do business with CFIA to request, manage and track permissions such as licenses, permits, registrations and export certificates by signing up for a secure online account
• Pursuing innovation and experimentation, including exploring blockchain technology, barcoding of samples in science laboratories, digitizing financial transactions by implementing Invoice to Pay (I2P) portal, and posting a challenge through Innovative Solutions Canada to encourage small businesses to develop innovative ideas for the development of a predictive computer model that could support vaccine matching technologies for Foot and Mouth Disease

GBA+

CFIA is executing a multiyear (2018 to 2020) strategic action plan to ensure programs and policy initiatives use a GBA+ lens to better address the diverse needs of Canadians while supporting Gender Results Framework priorities such as equality, full participation in the economy and a harassment-free workplace. CFIA works in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to support GBA+ assessments when mitigating human health risks associated with specific foods in specific populations such as children, elderly, and pregnant women.

Operating context

CFIA operates within a rapidly changing context as Canada is inextricably linked to a global economy and international influences. Risks to the food system and animal and plant resources have changed considerably in recent years and will continue to evolve rapidly. A growing population and diverse consumer preferences have led to an increasing volume and variety of products on the market. Global commerce has brought new business models and consolidation in the food and agricultural industry. Emerging and disruptive technology requires a regulatory system that promotes responsible adoption of such technology for public good without stifling innovation.

While these changes provide opportunities for Canadians, they bring operational challenges to CFIA. For instance, risks to food safety, animal and plant health have increased as a result of expanded international trade, accelerated technological innovation, and an increasingly complex and global supply chain of agricultural products. In addition, climate change is introducing potential risks, such as the possibility of pests and diseases becoming established in Canada where they would not have been able in the past.

Results: what we achieved

Core responsibility: safe food and healthy plants and animals

Description

CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, plants and animals, which enhances the health and well-being of Canadians, the environment and our economy.

Departmental result 1: Food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented to Canadians

Description

Through the delivery of its programs, CFIA administers and enforces regulations that aim to mitigate risks to consumers associated with potential hazards in the food supply system and manages food safety emergencies and incidents by collaborating with federal and provincial food safety partners and industry. CFIA achieves its objectives through: assessing and managing risk; implementing and enforcing regulations; developing and applying new scientific tools and processes; embracing innovation and technology; adopting and promoting science-based international standards; and, cooperating with stakeholders, as appropriate.

Results achieved

Regulatory reform

In 2019 to 2020, CFIA completed a number of regulatory reforms to help ensure food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented to Canadians:

• Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) – New food safety requirements for most businesses that import or prepare fresh fruits or vegetables for export or interprovincial trade came into effect. The SFCR allowed for Canada's food system to focus on prevention and allowed for faster removal of unsafe food from the marketplace
• Food and Drug Regulations – Compositional standards for beer and vodka were redefined, allowing Canadian brewers and distillers more flexibility to create new and innovative products while protecting Canadians with accurate labelling requirements
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and Regulations – CFIA can now issue notices of violations with or without a monetary penalty in the event that it determines that a regulated party is not in compliance with the statutory or regulatory provisions of the SFCR

Food Labelling Modernization

In December 2019, the Government of Canada published proposed regulatory changes to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the Food and Drug Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I as part of CFIA's Food Labelling Modernization (FLM) initiative. The amendments will simplify and reduce the duplication of labelling requirements, reduce administrative burden on businesses while creating opportunities for innovation and increased trade and provide consumers with more information to guide their purchasing decisions. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stakeholders and government, timelines for the FLM regulatory initiative will be delayed and will be reassessed as the pandemic resolves.

Establishment-based Risk Assessment Model for food

The Establishment-based Risk Assessment (ERA) model assesses the food safety risks of food establishments under CFIA's jurisdiction in order to prioritize inspection activities. Since March 2019, industry has been providing up-to-date information related to operational activities online through their individual MyCFIA accounts. This has allowed CFIA to have accurate and up-to-date risk information to support the ERA model. For example, in 2019 to 2020, results from the ERA model were used to target inspection resources based on risk in federally licensed maple and dairy establishments. In addition, industry has now access to an online training on the ERA model that covers the principles behind this risk assessment tool – an example of CFIA's ongoing commitment to transparency. Finally, CFIA also published a fourth scientific paper on the ERA model in a peer-reviewed journal.

Standard Inspection Procedure

The Standard Inspection Procedure (SIP) applies a consistent method of inspection of regulated parties across commodities. It was restructured in 2019 to 2020 for the 2020 to 2021 fiscal year. The updated SIP streamlines the procedures for our inspectors; and, aligns with the new Inspection Activity Architecture; the Digital Service Delivery Platform (DSDP); and the modular inspector training model under development. Together this will result in greater consistency for the regulated parties being inspected; and improve the quality of inspections.

Modernized Slaughter Inspection Program

CFIA has continued to modernize its slaughter inspection approach to move to more scientific risk-based approaches. The Modernized Slaughter Inspection Program (MSIP) focuses inspection efforts on the controls put in place by the licence holder to meet food safety and other standards. Instead of inspectors detecting and identifying defects, under MSIP, CFIA focuses its inspection activities on product which has been pre-screened by the establishment. This enhances CFIA's ability to oversee compliance with the production of safe meat products. Continued investment in meat slaughter inspection modernization in 2019 to 2020 led to the expansion of MSIP in additional hog-slaughter facilities.

Canadian Food Safety Information Network

The Canadian Food Safety Information Network (CFSIN) is a CFIA-led initiative that will strengthen the ability of food safety authorities across Canada to better anticipate, detect and respond to food safety incidents and emergencies in a more coordinated way, and will better protect Canada's food supply. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA completed several data-sharing agreements enabling the establishment of Canada's first Pan-Canadian food safety database; and, developed tools such as lab mapping, environmental scanning, and event management in the CFSIN Platform that will better enable federal, provincial and territorial partners to anticipate, detect and respond to food safety issues.

Strategy for Salmonella reduction in poultry

To prevent reoccurrence of Salmonella outbreaks by consumption of frozen raw breaded chicken products, CFIA has put in place a policy requiring industry to implement new measures at the manufacturing/processing level to reduce Salmonella to below detectable levels in frozen raw breaded chicken products packaged for retail sale. Since implementation of these new measures in April 2019, there have been no reported outbreaks of human Salmonella illness linked to these products.

Food fraud

Food fraud deceives consumers, damages market fairness, and could also introduce health risks to Canadians. Budget 2019 introduced a Canada Food Policy and provided funds for CFIA, working with Health Canada, to enhance federal capacity to prevent, detect and deter instances of food fraud. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA inspected and tested certain foods known to be subject to fraud in order to identify food misrepresentation, and took enforcement action when violations were found. A report on surveillance activities for honey adulteration with foreign sugars such as corn syrup, rice syrup and cane sugar, was published as well as a notice to industry to raise awareness and improve compliance. In addition, CFIA collected information and data on food commodities at high-risk for fraud to plan future targeted inspection activities, and worked to enhance laboratory analytical capacity. CFIA engaged both domestically and internationally to promote compliance and increase outreach, including fostering partnerships with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland of the United Kingdom to share best practices. A food fraud web page was launched on CFIA's website to build awareness.

Within this initiative, CFIA is also working to protect Canadians from fish species substitution. The Minister of Health's mandate letter introduced a commitment to develop a boat-to-plate traceability program for fish and seafood products in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). CFIA is working with industry and non-government organizations to address issues leading to fish misrepresentation and mislabelling, raise awareness throughout the supply chain and develop solutions to mitigate the risk of species misrepresentation.

Off-shore program activities

Increasing Canada's trading partners' ability to meet Canadian requirements in order to facilitate trade helps prevent unsafe imported food and food products from entering the Canadian marketplace. CFIAs off-shore food safety program is part of CFIA's broader pre-border risk management approach. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA conducted audits of foreign food safety systems to verify the implementation of food safety systems and to promote compliance with Canadian requirements in the production of safe food. CFIA also conducted foreign establishment verifications together with trading partners and foreign food safety authorities to promote compliance with Canadian requirements. Technical assistance activities, including a virtual workshop on undeclared allergens and a virtual workshop on chemical contaminants, were undertaken. Finally, CFIA notified foreign competent authorities of food safety non-compliance to promote compliance with Canadian requirements and prevent future non-compliance.

Departmental result 2: Plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pests and are safe for Canadians and the environment

Description

Canadians expect the health and welfare of its animals, plants and forests to be safeguarded. To effectively and efficiently prevent and contain pests and diseases that affect plant and animal resource bases, CFIA must keep pace with a changing climate, and the rapid rate of technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs while maintaining reliable and relevant services.

Results achieved

Regulatory amendments

In 2019 to 2020, CFIA completed the following regulatory amendments:

• Animal Disease Zoning (Health of Animals Regulations) – Adjustments were made to remove conflicting references related to animal disease zoning as well as to reflect the new ability to issue general permits under the Health of Animals Act. These amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on May 29, 2019
• Humane Transport Violations (Health of Animals Regulations) – These published amendments (February 2019) came into force for regulated parties on February 20, 2020. The new requirements improve the well-being of animals during the entire transportation process and better align Canada with international standards
• Animal Transportation Violations (Health of Animals Regulations) – Administrative monetary penalties were revised and can now be issued when CFIA determines that there has been a non-compliance with provisions related to the protection of animal welfare. These amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on February 19, 2020
• Hatchery – Proposed amendments published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 14, 2020 would contribute to the control and prevention of diseases in hatcheries and supply flocks in Canada, further Canada's ability to promote the integrity of the hatchery industry and allow the sector to keep pace with advances in scientific knowledge and technology, which is important for international trade. These amendments would require every hatchery to develop a preventative control plan which would have to include all the elements of the current relevant Code of Practice, biosecurity protocols, as well as sanitation and disease testing including for a common zoonotic food pathogen (salmonella). Hatcheries would also have to purchase their eggs only from supply flocks that follow the same requirements

The following regulatory amendments are progressing:

• Fertilizers – Proposed amendments will introduce a risk-based approach to regulatory intervention, align pre-market regulatory oversight with the risk profile of the product, and facilitate market access for safe and innovative fertilizers and supplements. It is anticipated that the final amendments will be published as final in the Canada Gazette, Part II in winter 2020
• Seeds – Proposed regulatory amendments are planned for 2022 to 2023. The regulations will reduce overlap and redundancy of regulatory requirements, increase responsiveness to industry change, address gaps, weaknesses and inconsistencies in the rules that govern the seed system and the various delivery bodies. The modernized regulations will also provide clarity and flexibility to affected regulated parties
• Plant Breeder's Rights – Planned regulatory amendments that would improve accessibility to the intellectual property framework, support a self-sustaining funding model for program delivery, and encourage greater investment and innovation in Canada's agriculture, horticulture, and ornamental sectors, are planned for 2021 to 2022. This provides additional time to build consensus and support within the sector before publishing the amendments to the Plant Breeders' Rights Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stakeholders and government, timelines for some CFIA regulatory initiatives were delayed. In accordance with instructions from the Treasury Board Secretariat, the timelines for the following regulatory proposals have been postponed:

• Livestock Identification and Traceability (Health of Animals Regulations) – Planned regulatory amendments include requirements to identify and report domestic movement of goats and cervids, as well the identification of premises where livestock is kept
• Cross-border Transport Biosecurity Protocol (Health of Animals Regulations) – Proposed amendments would allow entry of swine transport trucks that have not been washed in the United States if the operator is participating in a CFIA-approved, industry-led biosecurity program
• Feed (Feed Regulations) – Proposed amendments would move towards an approach that is less prescriptive and more focused on preventive controls to ensure the production of feed that is safe for, and meets the needs of, the animals for which it is intended

Establishment-based Risk Assessment Models for hatcheries and feed

Building on the success of the establishment-based risk assessment (ERA) model in the food program area, the tool has been adapted for the animal program area. In 2019 to 2020, the ERA model was implemented for hatcheries. In addition, work on the livestock feed models for commercial and on-farm feed mills and rendering plants has been initiated. This information will help CFIA identify areas of higher risk and target inspection resources and activities.

Chronic Wasting Disease Program

The Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Program has been an active area of focus for the CFIA and the rest of the Health Portfolio. CWD belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion disease, and is a progressive and fatal nervous system disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and many other tissues of farmed and free-ranging cervids such as the white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, red deer, elk and reindeer. Given the detection of CWD in farmed and wild cervids in Canada (Alberta and Saskatchewan), the CFIA continued to implement program changes and worked with provincial and territorial partners, public health officials, the cervid industry, indigenous communities and international counterparts to strengthen knowledge of CWD and associated risks, its transmissibility and appropriate control measures, such as those that form the basis of Canada's Herd Certification Program. While CWD is not a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) listed disease, it remains a reportable disease under Canada's Health of Animals Act. Therefore, the CFIA continues to advance discussions with provincial/territorial and indigenous partners to set up agreements for a collaborative approach for the response to a first detection of CWD in farmed cervids in provinces or territories that have previously diagnosed it.

African swine fever

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting all pigs and pig herds with no approved vaccine to cure or prevent a transmission between infected animals (domestic or wild), from contaminated pork products, feed or fomites such as footwear, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment. Outbreaks of the disease have been reported in Asia, Africa, parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. CFIA continued to take unprecedented action to protect Canada's swine herd from ASF, including enhancing Canada's import controls by raising awareness among travellers through social media and additional signage at airports and by working closely with CBSA to strengthen border controls, for example increasing the number of detector dogs at Canadian airports and applying penalties to travelers who fail to declare pork when entering the country. Surveillance and diagnostics research activities, disease response plans as well as international engagement are being established. CFIA convened international experts for a three day Forum in Ottawa to develop strategies for a collaborative approach to the prevention and global management of ASF. CFIA has been working with federal, provincial and industry partners to develop a Pan-Canadian ASF Action Plan to enhance ASF prevention and preparedness efforts in order to maintain Canada's extensive export market for pigs, pork, and pork products.

Canadian Plant Health Council

CFIA is one of three federal member departments of the Canadian Plant Health Council. In 2019 to 2020, the Canadian Plant Health Council continued to enhance the coordination of surveillance activities across the country; build producer awareness of the importance of biosecurity measures in preventing the spread of plant pests; and develop guidance on how partners can work together to respond quickly and effectively when emergency action is required. This collaboration is focused on preventive approaches to protect forests, crops and other plants from pests, diseases and other risks.

Citizen science engagement for early detection of plant pests

Public and citizen scientists' reports play an important role in plant pest surveillance. CFIA successfully led a collaborative, citizen-based monitoring project aiming at determining the status of the Cydalima perspectalis (Walker), box tree moth, an invasive pest originating from Asia that is currently causing severe damage to boxwood in Europe. In November 2018, CFIA confirmed the first report of this pest in North America, in an urban neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, which prompted CFIA to make informed regulatory decisions for the management of this pest.

Collaborative Japanese beetle eradication effort in Vancouver

The Japanese beetle, an invasive plant pest regulated by CFIA, was first detected in Vancouver in the summer of 2017. This insect can significantly damage landscape plants, ornamental plants, fruit and vegetable gardens, nurseries, orchards, golf courses, parks and agricultural crops. The important partnerships and collaborative response and eradication efforts led by CFIA with British Columbia's Ministry of Agriculture, the City of Vancouver, and other industry and non-governmental stakeholders, earned it the 2019 BC Premier Award.

Assessing current and emerging risks to plant health

Safeguarding plant health is imperative to maintaining food security, environmental sustainability, and public health. CFIA developed a successful proposal for the Canadian Council of Academies to examine current and emerging risks to plant health, identify gaps and strengths in Canada's capacity to manage them, and identify leading risk management practices.

Departmental result 3: Canadian food, animals and plants and their associated products can be traded internationally

Description

CFIA supports government trade priorities and makes a difference for Canadians and Canadian businesses by opening and maintaining access to international markets, enabling the flow of safe food, plant and animal imports, and supporting the economy.

Results achieved

International standard setting

CFIA actively participates in developing international standards and trade rules for food safety, fair practices in food trade, and animal and plant health. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA's international standard setting achievements included:

• Leading Canada's participation at the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and co-leading, with Health Canada, Canada's participation in the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). Through these efforts, CFIA promoted the development of science-based international standards, consistent with Canada's regulatory framework and Canadian interests
• Actively engaged in advancing the work of the IPPC, including representing North America on the Bureau of the IPPC's Commission on Phytosanitary Measures and the Standards Committee, where CFIA contributed to the strategic direction and financial and operational management of the IPPC. In addition, as Vice-Chair of the IPPC's Implementation and Capacity Development Committee, CFIA contributed to the prioritization and execution of initiatives aimed at increasing the capacity of member countries to implement IPPC guidance while facilitating safe trade between countries
• Chairing the 45th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling in Ottawa, Ontario, and making progress on the development of a standard for labelling of non-retail containers and front-of-pack nutrition information, as well as agreeing to new work on labelling of foods sold on the internet, and clarifying existing guidance on allergen labelling
• Co-leading, in collaboration with Health Canada, the development of the 2019 to 2023 Strategic Framework for Canada's participation in the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations/ World Health Organization (WHO) Food Standards Program, to strategically guide Canada's participation in Codex in order to influence and promote the development of science-based international food standards and advance Canadian objectives in Codex
• Continuing to co-lead free trade agreement negotiations for the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Chapter with the Mercosur trading bloc, while also providing advice to advance positions in ongoing trade negotiations with the Pacific Alliance trading bloc
• Leading Canada's engagement in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), to influence discussions on the implementation of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, actively promote the use of international standards, and raise concerns with SPS measures taken by other countries – thereby advancing Canadian trade policy and market access interests

International regulatory cooperation and collaboration

CFIA promotes a science-based and predictable trade environment by mitigating risks to Canada and strategically engaging and collaborating with foreign competent authorities. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA accomplishments included:

• Active involvement in two international ad hoc groups related to COVID-19
• Convening discussions between the Animal Health Quadrilateral Group countries plus the UK concerning animal health related issues of mutual interest
• Collaboration with Global Affairs Canada to continue planning and delivering a capacity building program with Senegal
• Working collaboratively with the United States Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to successfully negotiate and implement a new export certificate for imports of broths, flavours, and extracts of meat origin from the United States

Market access support

CFIA facilitates access of Canadian products to international markets by providing technical expertise and leading discussions and negotiations with foreign competent authorities on import/export requirements. In 2019 to 2020, accomplishments included:

• Continued ongoing plant health technical exchanges with China, India, Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia, Morocco, and Turkey on a range of phytosanitary issues, in order to support continued market access for Canadian plants and plant products internationally, including forestry, horticultural, grains and field crops
• Formal Sanitary and Phytosanitary committees, established under existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), convened to advance a variety of trade issues related to animal health, plant health and food safety. This included committee meetings related to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as Canada's FTAs with Peru and Colombia
• Engaged with Australia and secured favorable plant health import requirements for Canadian wheat
• Engaged with the EU to successfully maintain market access for cherries, blueberries and cranberries
• Successfully negotiated bilateral arrangements in 2019 to 2020 and extended an export arrangement to allow continued market access for $75 million (CDN) of kiln-dried ash-lumber to the EU
• Hosted incoming foreign audits of various fruit and vegetable export certification programs in support of new or maintained market access
• Supported Canada's international market access by working closely with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to resolve 76 specific market access issues
• Collaborated with AAFC and other government partners and stakeholders to restore access to the Chinese market following China's decisions to ban imports of Canadian pork and beef
• Continued to collaborate with partners, working both through bilateral and multilateral channels, to restore full access for canola seed
• Continued to collaborate with AAFC and other partners to engage India to finalize mutually acceptable conditions, to enable the export of Canadian pulses to India without the need for mandatory fumigation

Risk assessment

In 2019 to 2020, risk assessments were informed by rapid science advice in response to many new situations from new pest incursion and emerging pests and to market access requests. These risk assessments supported trade arrangements in pulses with India, laid the groundwork for a new British Columbia cherry export market to Korea, and helped open up new markets for canola and Canadian potatoes. CFIA also completed a country evaluation of Ukraine for the importation of honeybees and poultry meat. Strong, science-based assessments of countries allow for the safe trade of commodities and increases the confidence of Canadians in import controls.

Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) and CFIA

As a science and risk-based regulator, CFIA applies gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) at the outset of its activities. CFIA considers potential stakeholder needs and helps identify risks to potentially vulnerable populations to support decision making and the development of mitigating measures for its programs and services.

CFIA continued to execute its multiyear (2018-2020) strategic action plan to strengthen the implementation of GBA+ in its policies, programs, regulations and services. A GBA+ lens is applied to CFIA's initiatives to better address the diverse needs of Canadians and advance Government of Canada priorities for equity, diversity and inclusion. CFIA applies GBA+ to all Cabinet, regulatory and policy proposals and has instituted a means to track and measure the performance, quality and completeness of gender-based analysis in these areas for improved results.

This year, CFIA rolled out GBA+ training to most managers and senior staff. In addition, CFIA continued to improve the application and use of GBA+ in key functional areas.

CFIA continues to benefit greatly from ongoing, close collaboration with both the Health and Agriculture portfolios, as well as the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE). This past year, CFIA co-hosted and participated in many gender and diversity learning events such as the Health Portfolio's Sex and Gender Symposium and GBA+ Awareness Week activities to galvanize greater understanding of GBA+ and drive GBA+ implementation and best practices across government on gender equity, diversity and inclusion priorities. At the Symposium, CFIA shared its new CICI Stakeholder Engagement platform which collects critical engagement data on a number of diversity factors and shared the results of an internal survey to capture insights, observations and lessons learned on gender-based analyses.

Experimentation

Innovation and design

In 2019 to 2020, the following innovation and design initiatives were undertaken in support of CFIA's long-term vision:

• Barcoding for samples in science laboratories: This initiative focused on the development of a streamlined process for sample and information management, identification and procurement of IMIT requirements to support the process and development of a plan to assess and implement solutions for sample barcoding. Phase 1 of implementation is underway and included the procurement and installation of barcode readers at select laboratories
• Business process improvement for core stakeholders: CFIA simplified and digitized the process to request certification for some exports and for requesting pre-market authorizations. This modernized approach empowers stakeholders to obtain needed services online and has facilitated access to more complete information about export activity life cycles
• Leveraging data science to predict non-compliance in wood packaging material: In collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency, a decision-support tool using machine learning principles was developed to guide targeted inspections of import packaging materials. Options to implement the tool on a larger-scale are currently being explored. Lessons learned will inform the design and development of CFIA's programs aimed at managing risks from imports. Prototypes using similar approaches are being developed for e-commerce to identify invasive species, as well as other solutions, such as the detection of imports carrying a risk of introduction of African swine fever in Canada

Blockchain

Through pilot work conducted in 2019 to 2020, CFIA has learned that innovation in distributed ledger technology (blockchain) will be driven by individual firms or willing industry associations that want to move forward. Lessons learned during this experiment phase included the importance of regulators participating at the early stages of design and in the governance of blockchain-based industry systems to ensure regulatory requirements and interoperability are considered. Current areas of opportunity being pursued include collaborative work on the development of agricultural blockchain standards and data governance to support interoperability, the facilitation of international trade, and supply chain traceability.

Innovative Solutions Canada

In 2019 to 2020, CFIA posted a challenge encouraging small businesses in Canada to develop innovative ideas for the development of a predictive computer model that could support vaccine matching technologies for Foot and Mouth Disease. CFIA has also advanced the 3 challenges from 2018 to 2019 (2 on detecting plant pests and 1 on detecting marine biotoxins in shellfish) and selected two companies to enter Phase 1 of the program for detecting marine biotoxins in shellfish. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA matched with an innovation under the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) testing stream for the first time and will be testing an advanced diagnostic tool for African swine fever (ASF).

Inspired by the ISC challenge, CFIA invited staff to submit innovative ideas for an Experimentation Challenge that focused on leveraging digital technologies to improve the work of its staff. Three ideas were funded for further work and exploration:

• Remote drone inspections: Exploring the use of drones for surveillance activities which could lower resource costs for inspections and increase safety for clients and staff.
• Inspector resources: To improve inspector mobility, a single application that contains all inspector resources required to conduct inspections, such as acts, regulations, guidance documents, standard inspection procedures, standard operating procedures, checklists, et cetera. was proposed. This application would make all these resources available both online and off line. This idea was awarded funds and a working group will be formed in 2020 to 2021 to develop business requirements to be used to centralize resources and build a prototype.
• Pet e-Travel: To reduce the number of calls and visits to CFIA local offices for information on travelling with pets, the idea of developing a mobile application that allows Canadians to easily access information about travelling with their pets was presented. This application would also enable users to create a profile for their pet, store important documents (related to their pet), create, save, and view past trips. The team was awarded funds and a visual prototype was created. In the upcoming year a working prototype will be developed for user testing with travelers.

Financial, human resources and performance information for CFIA's Program Inventory is available in GC InfoBase.

Internal services

Description

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. The 10 service categories are:

• Acquisition Management Services
• Communication Services
• Financial Management Services
• Human Resources Management Services
• Information Management Services
• Information Technology Services
• Legal Services
• Material Management Services
• Management and Oversight Services
• Real Property Management Services

CFIA transparency agenda: Protecting health and safety, preserving trust

Initiated in 2011, CFIA's transparency agenda has continued to evolve to meet growing public expectations for increased openness and transparency. Guided by the Open and Transparent Agency Policy and Framework (2019 to 2022) posted online in August 2019, CFIA's goal is to make its programs and services 'open by design'.

By providing more relevant, accurate and timely information, CFIA is enabling a better understanding of how and why CFIA's regulatory decisions are made, to help Canadians make informed decisions about matters of importance to them, their families, their communities and businesses.

To support the advancement of this agenda and the Government of Canada's priority of Open and Transparent Government, CFIA expanded its existing transparency practices in 2019 to 2020. Highlights include:

• Renewing its website to make it more user friendly and help Canadians find information more quickly
• Publishing listings of Question Period cards, briefing and transition material for senior officials
• Implementing its Scientific Integrity Policy which re-affirms CFIA's commitment to openness, transparency, and public dissemination of science and research to give Canadians confidence in its evidence-based decision making

Information Management and Information Technology

CFIA is aligned with the Government of Canada's digital direction in implementing Data and Records Management strategies. To support these strategies, a fully functioning Information Governance structure has been put in place to enable better information quality and availability to Canadians through the Digital Service Delivery Platform and the Open Data Portal.

Along with the continued IT Client Care Centre services, CFIA began developing and releasing IT guidance documentation in mid-March, 2019 to support employees with remote access, telework and for the use of any new applications. "Tips and Tricks", knowledge articles, training materials (digital and video), FAQs and self-learning tools were, and continue to be, established and circulated to ensure the continued success of CFIA employees while working remotely. Additionally, to ensure business continued, CFIA digitized four of its internal forms and enabled digital signatures to allow for seamless approvals across the system. CFIA plans to continue assessing further opportunities for digitization in 2020 to 2021.

Corporate Management

CFIA continued to pursue digitization of all its financial and administrative transactions. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA implemented a fully digitized Invoice to Payment (I2P) portal to process all invoices online. This system has eliminated the requirement to route paper-based invoices by using digital images and electronic signatures for approval. Using innovative processes such as I2P successfully enabled CFIA to adapt quickly to the challenges imposed by COVID-19 and provide undisrupted services to support frontline service delivery and external reporting.

Human Resources

CFIA continued to pursue a number of initiatives in 2019 to 2020 that contributed to the following objectives:

Continued implementation of CFIA's healthy workplace strategy, working with our bargaining agents, to ensure that CFIA maintained a deliberate focus on the wellness and well-being of our employees, namely by:

• Dedicating a senior subject matter expert to the prevention and resolution of Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace
• Launching the Harassment Support Liaison Officer (HSLO) Program
• Developing and launching a centralized Worker's Compensation Claims Portal which addresses timely and prompt claim submissions and processing for workplace injuries across CFIA

CFIA also continued its efforts to:

• maintain student recruitment as a priority, especially through the Veterinary Summer Student Internship Program and its participation in over 65 career fairs to promote CFIA as an employer of choice
• collaborate with the University of Guelph (especially in CFIA's role as the Government of Canada Champion for the University of Guelph) to further develop the Experience Guelph Career Fair and build awareness of jobs in the Public Service
• provide ongoing communication and support for the performance excellence program through the provision of advice regarding setting "SMART" objectives and supporting managers to provide feedback to their employees regularly and in managing performance where required
• modernize and strengthen a values-based staffing approach with the April 2019 launch of a new Staffing and Monitoring program, which supports non-advertised appointments of members of designated Employment Equity groups and guides delegated managers at CFIA in building an effective workforce. The staffing value of Representativeness is included in the new staffing approach, which means that the composition of CFIA's workforce reflects labour market availability of employment equity designated groups

Enhancing Project Management

CFIA continued to mature its project management capabilities through the development of portfolio and program management practices and standards. In 2019 to 2020, CFIA also provided an On-line Executive Project Management Training session to equip Project Leaders with an appropriate knowledge base and greater understanding of their role in successfully leading their portfolio of investments.

Analysis of trends in spending and human resources

Actual expenditures

The tables presented in this section reflect CFIA's historical spending levels from 2017-2018 to 2019-2020 and planned spending for the next three fiscal years (2020-2021 to 2022-2023). Planned spending excludes funding extensions that CFIA plans to pursue. Sunsetting programs are subject to government decisions to extend, reduce or enhance funding.

CFIA will assess initiatives that are sunsetting and seek renewal, as required, to maintain and continuously improve Canada's strong food safety system, safe and accessible food supply, and plant and animal resource base. Following parliamentary approval, funding renewal decisions will be reflected in CFIA's budgetary authorities. Agency-level information can be found in the Departmental spending trend graph below.

Departmental spending trend graph

The following graph presents planned (voted and statutory spending) over time.

Description for image – Departmental spending trend graph

Departmental spending trend graph

	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
Statutory	101	160	135	142	139	139
Voted	639	632	617	588	579	593
Total	739	792	752	730	718	732

Actual human resources

CFIA saw decreased spending in 2019 to 2020, primarily relating to significant one-time retroactive salary settlement payments in 2018-19 due to the Collective Bargaining ratification that occurred that year.

In 2020 to 2021, 2021 to 2022, and 2022 to 2023 planned spending and FTEs decrease slightly compared to prior years mainly due to the sunsetting of funding for various initiatives such Daily Shift Inspection Presence and projects and the exclusion of anticipated in-year allocations from planned spending (such as annual reimbursements of personnel related payments made on behalf of the Government of Canada).

CFIA will continue to assess the initiatives that are sunsetting and seek renewal, as required, to maintain and continuously improve Canada's strong food safety system, safe and accessible food supply, and plant and animal resource base. When including anticipated renewal of sunsetting resources, agency spending and FTEs utilization is forecasted to be more stable.

An adjustment in the Total Authorities Available for Use, as they related to collective bargaining funds, occurred in 2019 to 2020. This adjustment resulted in the creation of a $29.6 million frozen allotment, which remains part of the CFIA's authorities but is not available for use by CFIA. When comparing the Total Authorities Available for Use to the Actual Expenditure Authorities Used for fiscal year 2019 to 2020, this frozen allotment should be considered to better compare and understand the reasonableness of the CFIA's variance.

Expenditures by vote

For information on CFIA's organizational voted and statutory expenditures, consult the Public Accounts of Canada 2019 to 2020.

Government of Canada spending and activities

Information on the alignment of CFIA's spending with the Government of Canada's spending and activities is available in GC InfoBase.

Financial statements and financial statements highlights

Financial statements

CFIA's financial statements (unaudited) for the year ended March 31, 2020, are available on the departmental website.

Financial statement highlights

The financial statements highlights presented within the Departmental Result Report are intended to serve as a general overview of CFIA's financial position and operations.

Financial statements are prepared in accordance with accrual accounting principles, Treasury Board accounting policies, and year-end instructions issued by the Office of the Comptroller General which are based on Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector, as required under Section 31 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act. However, the financial information previously presented in the earlier portion of this Department Results Report was drawn from the Public Accounts of Canada which were prepared using an expenditure basis of accounting, also known as modified cash accounting.

CFIA's expenses for the fiscal year 2019 to 2020 were $839 million, an increase of $4.1 million compared to 2018-19. Items contributing to the increase are as follows:

• $14.3 million increase in salaries and employee benefits was mainly due to renewal of the collective agreements
• $2.3 million increase in compensation payments can be largely explained by a increase related to Chronic wasting disease, offset by a decrease pertaining to Bovine tuberculosis (BTB)
• $1.6 million increase in amortization expense was mainly due to capital investments in IT infrastructure and laboratory betterments in recent years

These increases were offset by a $14 million decrease in professional fees largely due to a decrease in costs related to laboratory testing and legal services. Additionally, CFIA saw a $2.1 million decrease in travel costs. Travel costs were higher than normal in 2018 to 2019 as part of CFIA's BTB response. Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 further contributed to the decrease of travel costs.

2019 to 2020 total revenues were $56.2 million, similar to last year's $56.7 million.

The total liabilities at the end of 2019 to 2020 were $169.8 million, a decrease of $9 million over the previous year. The decrease was largely due to a $13.2 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities largely explained by the aforementioned renewal of collective agreements. The decreases were offset by a $6.4 million increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave liabilities due to the continued postponement of the automatic cash-out of vacation and compensatory leave at year-end.

2019 to 2020 total non-financial assets amounted to $185.4 million, a decrease of $14.7 million compared to 2018 to 2019. This was largely due to amortization of capital assets.

Additional information

• Corporate information
  • Organizational profile
  • Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
  • Reporting framework
• Supporting information on the program inventory
• Supplementary information tables
• Federal tax expenditures
• Organizational contact information

Corporate information

Organizational profile

Appropriate minister: The Honourable Patty Hajdu, PC, MP

Institutional head: Siddika Mithani

Ministerial portfolio: Health

Enabling instruments:

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
• Food and Drugs Act
• Safe Food for Canadians Act, Agricultural Growth Act (Agricultural Growth Act with the exception of subsection 53 (1).)
• Fertilizers Act
• Plant Breeders' Rights Act
• Plant Protection Act
• Seeds Act
• Health of Animals Act
• Feeds Act

Year of incorporation/commencement: 1997

Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do

Raison d'être

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is a large science-based regulatory Agency with employees working across Canada in the National Capital Region and in four operational regions: Atlantic, Québec, Ontario and Western Canada.

CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, and animal and plant health, which enhances Canada's environment, economy, and the health and well-being of its residents. Additionally, to support market access, CFIA works with Canada's trading partners to verify that Canadian products meet importing countries' technical requirements, thus expanding, gaining, restoring or maintaining access to markets.

Mandate and role

In fulfilling its role as a science-based regulatory agency, CFIA serves Canadians by developing policies and strategies, conducting specialized laboratory tests, and monitoring industry practice and compliance with legislation, in order to:

• protect Canadians from preventable food safety risks
• protect consumers through a fair and effective food, animal and plant regulatory regime that supports competitive domestic and international markets
• contribute to the security of Canada's plant and animal resource base by preventing and managing regulated pests, diseases and invasive species
• provide sound agency management

CFIA works with a variety of departments across all three levels of government, collaborates with stakeholders, and remains receptive to the values of interests groups. Together, all parties play a unique role in managing food, plant and animal risks, incidents and emergencies as they occur, and the implementation of appropriate measures and interventions where necessary.

For more information on the department's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the "Minister's mandate letter".

Reporting framework

CFIA's Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory of record for 2019 to 2020 are shown below.

Description for image: Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory

At the top of image, there is a table with four columns in a row.

The first column spans from the top to the bottom of the table with text rotated ninety degrees counter clockwise. The first column says:

• Departmental Results Framework

The second column has multiple rows of boxes

The first box in the second column says:

• Core Responsibility: Safe Food and healthy plants and animal

The second box in the second column says:

• Departmental Result 1: Food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented to Canadians

The third box in the second column says:

• Departmental Result 2: Plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pets and are safe for Canadians and the environment

The fourth box in the second column says:

• Departmental Result 3: Canadian food, plants and animals and their associated products can be traded internationally

The third column has multiple rows that are aligned to the second box, third box, and the fourth box in the third column.

The first box in the third column is blank.

The second box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 1: Food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented to Canadians" and it says:

• Percentage of food businesses that comply with federal rules

The third box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 1: Food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented to Canadians" and it says:

• Percentage of Public Warnings for high risk food recalls that are issued within 24 hours of a recall decision

The fourth box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 2: Plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pets and are safe for Canadians and the environment" and it says:

• Number of harmful foreign pests that have entered and established themselves in Canada

The fifth box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 2: Plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pets and are safe for Canadians and the environment" and it says:

• Percentage of domestic seed, fertilizer, and new or modified plant varieties and products that comply with Canadian regulations and international agreements

The sixth box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 2: Plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pets and are safe for Canadians and the environment" and it says:

• Percentage of inspected loads of live animals that comply with federal humane transportation requirements

The seventh box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 2: Plant and animal resources are protected from diseases and pets and are safe for Canadians and the environment" and it says:

• Number of cases of animal diseases that affect human and/or animal health that have entered into Canada

The eighth box in the third column is aligned to the "Departmental Result 3: Canadian food, plants and animals and their associated products can be traded internationally" and it says:

• Number of shipments of Canadian goods that are rejected at foreign borders because they do not meet their import requirements

There is a blank row separating the first and second table.

The second table has two columns in a row.

The first column spans from the top to the bottom of the table with text rotated ninety degrees counter clockwise. The first column says:

• Program Inventory

The second column has several rows.

The first row in the second column says:

• Setting Rules for Food Safety and Consumer

The second row in the second column says:

• Food Safety and Consumer Protection Compliance Promotion

The third row in the second column says:

• Monitoring and Enforcement for Food Safety and Consumer Protection

The fourth row in the second column says:

• Permissions for Food Products

The fifth row in the second column says:

• Setting Rules for Plant Health

The sixth row in the second column says:

• Plant Health Compliance Promotion

The seventh row in the second column says:

• Monitoring and Enforcement for Plant Health

The eighth row in the second column says:

• Permissions for Plant Products

The ninth row in the second column says:

• Setting Rules for Animal Health

The tenth row in the second column says:

• Animal Health Compliance Promotion

The eleventh row in the second column says:

• Monitoring and Enforcement for Animal Health

The twelfth row in the second column says:

• Permissions for Animal Products

The thirteenth row in the second column says:

• International Standard Setting

The fourteenth row in the second column says:

• International Regulatory Cooperation and Science Collaboration

The fifteenth row in the second column says:

• International Market Access Support

Supporting information on the program inventory

Financial, human resources and performance information for CFIA's Program Inventory is available in GC InfoBase.

Supplementary information tables

• Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
• Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more
• Gender-based analysis plus
• Horizontal initiatives
• Response to parliamentary committees and external audits
• Status report on transformational and major Crown projects
• Up-front multi-year funding

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

1. Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

The 2016 to 2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency adheres to the principles of the FSDS, and while not bound formally by the Act, supports reporting on the implementation of the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

2. Sustainable development in CFIA

CFIA's Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy for 2017 to 2020 describes the department's actions in support of achieving low-carbon government and sustainable food. This supplementary information table presents available results for the departmental action[s] pertinent to these goals. Previous years' supplementary information tables are posted on CFIA's website.

3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal

The following tables provide performance information on departmental action[s] in support of the FSDS goals listed in section 2.

4. Report on integrating sustainable development

During the 2019 to 2020 reporting cycle, CFIA had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and no public statements were produced.

Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more

General information

Explanation of variances

Compensation payments vary from year to year, depending upon the various outbreaks which occur across Canada. The planned spending for Compensation payments is hard to forecast because the occurrence of the diseases are unpredictable.

Gender-based analysis plus

Horizontal initiatives

CFIA had no horizontal initiatives in 2019 to 2020.

Response to parliamentary committees and external audits

Response to parliamentary committees

There were no parliamentary committee reports requiring a response in 2019 to 2020.

Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

There were no audits in 2019 to 2020 requiring a response.

Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

There were no audits in 2019 to 2020 requiring a response.

Status report on transformational and major Crown projects

CFIA had no transformation or major Crown projects in 2019 to 2020.

Up-front multi-year funding

CFIA has no agreements for this directive.

Federal tax expenditures

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs. The tax measures presented in this report are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.

Organizational contact information

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
1400 Merivale Road,
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Canada
Telephone: 1-800-442-2342 / 1-613-773-2342
Teletypewriter: 1-800-465-7735
Internet: Contact CFIA online

Appendix: definitions

appropriation (crédit)

Any authority of Parliament to pay money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)

Operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.

core responsibility (responsabilité essentielle)

An enduring function or role performed by a department. The intentions of the department with respect to a core responsibility are reflected in one or more related departmental results that the department seeks to contribute to or influence.

Departmental Plan (plan ministériel)

A report on the plans and expected performance of an appropriated department over a 3‑year period. Departmental Plans are usually tabled in Parliament each spring.

departmental priority (priorité)

A plan or project that a department has chosen to focus and report on during the planning period. Priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the desired departmental results.

departmental result (résultat ministériel)

A consequence or outcome that a department seeks to achieve. A departmental result is often outside departments' immediate control, but it should be influenced by program-level outcomes.

departmental result indicator (indicateur de résultat ministériel)

A quantitative measure of progress on a departmental result.

departmental results framework (cadre ministériel des résultats)

A framework that connects the department's core responsibilities to its departmental results and departmental result indicators.

Departmental Results Report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)

A report on a department's actual accomplishments against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in the corresponding Departmental Plan.

experimentation (expérimentation)

The conducting of activities that seek to first explore, then test and compare the effects and impacts of policies and interventions in order to inform evidence-based decision-making, and improve outcomes for Canadians, by learning what works, for whom and in what circumstances. Experimentation is related to, but distinct from, innovation (the trying of new things), because it involves a rigorous comparison of results. For example, using a new website to communicate with Canadians can be an innovation; systematically testing the new website against existing outreach tools or an old website to see which one leads to more engagement, is experimentation.

full‑time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)

A measure of the extent to which an employee represents a full person‑year charge against a departmental budget. For a particular position, the full‑time equivalent figure is the ratio of number of hours the person actually works divided by the standard number of hours set out in the person's collective agreement.

gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [ACS+])

An analytical process used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people experience policies, programs and services based on multiple factors including race ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability.

government-wide priorities (priorités pangouvernementales)

For the purpose of the 2019 to 2020 Departmental Results Report, those high-level themes outlining the government's agenda in the 2019 Speech from the Throne, namely: Fighting climate change; Strengthening the Middle Class; Walking the road of reconciliation; Keeping Canadians safe and healthy; and Positioning Canada for success in an uncertain world.

horizontal initiative (initiative horizontale)

An initiative where two or more federal organizations are given funding to pursue a shared outcome, often linked to a government priority.

non‑budgetary expenditures (dépenses non budgétaires)

Net outlays and receipts related to loans, investments and advances, which change the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.

performance (rendement)

What an organization did with its resources to achieve its results, how well those results compare to what the organization intended to achieve, and how well lessons learned have been identified.

performance indicator (indicateur de rendement)

A qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an output or outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of an organization, program, policy or initiative respecting expected results.

performance reporting (production de rapports sur le rendement)

The process of communicating evidence‑based performance information. Performance reporting supports decision making, accountability and transparency.

plan (plan)

The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how an organization intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally, a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead to the expected result.

planned spending (dépenses prévues)

For Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, planned spending refers to those amounts presented in Main Estimates.

A department is expected to be aware of the authorities that it has sought and received. The determination of planned spending is a departmental responsibility, and departments must be able to defend the expenditure and accrual numbers presented in their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.

program (programme)

Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together within the department and focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.

program inventory (répertoire des programmes)

Identifies all the department's programs and describes how resources are organized to contribute to the department's core responsibilities and results.

result (résultat)

A consequence attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead they are within the area of the organization's influence.

statutory expenditures (dépenses législatives)

Expenditures that Parliament has approved through legislation other than appropriation acts. The legislation sets out the purpose of the expenditures and the terms and conditions under which they may be made.

target (cible)

A measurable performance or success level that an organization, program or initiative plans to achieve within a specified time period. Targets can be either quantitative or qualitative.

voted expenditures (dépenses votées)

Expenditures that Parliament approves annually through an appropriation act. The vote wording becomes the governing conditions under which these expenditures may be made.