At the 2024 Animal Health Canada Forum, Francis Drouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced that the Government of Canada will provide up to $13.3 million over five years to Animal Health Canada (AHC) through the AgriAssurance Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The funding will support three key projects focused on enhancing animal health, welfare, and emergency preparedness.
The first project, receiving $3.5 million, will expand animal health surveillance networks and adopt a One Health approach to better manage disease outbreaks. The second project, funded with $5 million, will improve emergency management through planning, staff training, and preparedness exercises. The third project, with $4.8 million in funding, will update national Codes of Practice for animal care and ensure sector-wide awareness of the changes.
These initiatives aim to strengthen Canada’s animal welfare standards, improve disease management, and build a more resilient agricultural sector, ensuring the safety of both animals and Canadians.
Key officials, including Minister Lawrence MacAulay, emphasized the importance of maintaining high animal care standards and safeguarding Canada’s food supply and agricultural communities through these efforts.
