Last week the Honorable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $1,697,850 to Animal Health Canada to support their role in foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness efforts in Canada, including for African swine fever and foot and mouth disease. Animal Health Canada brings together the agriculture industry, and federal, provincial and territorial partners to provide input on a cohesive, functional and responsive farmed animal health and welfare system in Canada.

"Animal diseases are an ongoing threat to Canada's livestock producers and prevention and preparedness initiatives from all orders of government and industry are vitally important," said MacAulay. "Animal Health Canada's coordination role with partners and stakeholders has been key to Canada's animal disease prevention, and to ensuring our livestock sector is ready in the event of an outbreak."

With an investment of $999,900 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program, Animal Health Canada will continue its coordination role in prevention efforts while working to minimize the potential impact of an ASF outbreak on Canada's swine industry. This includes providing the African swine fever Executive Management Board with support for the prevention and control of ASF through coordination of wild pig management activities, industry stop-movement protocols, partner roles and responsibilities, Indigenous engagement and the development of ASF resources and plans.

"We're pleased we are continuing our collaboration with industry and government to not only prevent and control African swine fever in Canada, but other foreign animal disease outbreaks," said Colleen McElwain, executive director of Animal Health Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is providing a contribution of $697,950 to Animal Health Canada through its Federal Assistance Program to support ongoing efforts over the next two years aimed at advancing preparedness for ASF and FMD. This funding will facilitate the analysis of surveillance data, critical training, further definition of stakeholder roles and responsibilities in responding to outbreaks, and the development of a vaccine strategy in the event of an FMD outbreak in Canada. Additionally, it will enable preparations and exercises in advance of potential ASF or FMD outbreak.

The Government of Canada takes the threat of foreign animal diseases seriously and continues to make strategic investments to bolster mitigation and preparedness efforts to protect the livestock industry and the vitality of rural communities.