Animal Health Canada secures over $13 million in funding

At the 2024 Animal Health Canada (AHC) Forum in Ottawa, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Francis Drouin, announced that AHC will receive over $13 million in funding. This support will enable AHC to continue its collaborative efforts with various government levels, industry, and animal health partners to enhance animal health and welfare across Canada.

This funding, provided through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriAssurance Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, will bolster AHC’s three key divisions: Emergency Management, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), and the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS). These divisions will work together to improve emergency preparedness, promote sustainable animal welfare practices, and strengthen Canada’s animal health surveillance systems.

Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says healthy animals mean healthy communities.

“Our investment in disease monitoring, emergency planning, and quality animal care underscores our commitment to animal welfare and management, benefiting Canadians. With Animal Health Canada’s support, we’re ensuring our farms are resilient and our food remains safe and trusted both domestically and globally,” says Minister MacAulay.

AHC’s Emergency Management division will spearhead efforts to enhance national planning and preparedness, focusing on foreign animal diseases such as African swine fever, foot and mouth disease, and highly pathogenic avian influenza. The division will concentrate on three main areas: information management and relationship mapping, resource development to address emergency management skill gaps, and outreach and training through communication campaigns, e-learning, and workshops.

“This investment will boost our emergency management capabilities and uphold our high standards for animal welfare,” said Francis Drouin. “This is great news for our agricultural communities and the health of our livestock. By investing in these areas, we are creating a more resilient sector for the future.”

The NFACC division will update and promote Canada’s Codes of Practice, which set national standards for animal care. This includes updating five Codes covering beef cattle, equine, sheep, pigs, and poultry, as well as amending the pullets and laying hens Code.

AHC’s CAHSS division will use the funding to enhance data integration and improve disease detection and monitoring capabilities. CAHSS will continue to promote data sharing, monitor emerging issues, and strengthen early warning systems to improve Canada’s response to animal health emergencies.