Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald is snubbing a parliamentary committee to go ahead with the closure of seven research facilities, including a food safety lab at Guelph.
In his reply to the agriculture committee’s report, Science in Canadian Agriculture and the Closure of Research Centres, he said he noted the recommendation to “pause and reverse” the closures in Lacombe, Alta., Indian Head and Scott, Sask., Portage la Prairie, Man., Guelph, Ont., Quebec City and Nappan, N.S. but said research will continue at other locations.
Farm organizations all opposed the cuts. The Saskatchewan government stepped in, signing a memorandum of understanding to keep its two farms operating with industry support.
“Closure of the research and development centres will be phased and carefully managed” and many staff will be retained, reassigned or relocated, MacDonald said.
He is cutting 665 positions in his agriculture department and 587 at his Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
