The Government of Canada has announced significant funding to enhance animal health and welfare. At the 2024 Animal Health Canada Forum, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Francis Drouin revealed an investment of up to $13,343,409 over five years for Animal Health Canada (AHC). This funding will support three key projects through the AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The investment is designed to improve disease surveillance, emergency management, and animal care standards, ultimately safeguarding animal welfare and public health. AHC will receive up to $3,534,174 to expand its animal health surveillance networks and shift to a One Health approach, reducing the economic and welfare impacts of potential disease outbreaks in livestock through enhanced information sharing.

Additionally, AHC is allocated up to $5,000,000 for a project to improve emergency management practices. This will include developing comprehensive emergency plans, training industry staff, conducting workshops, and testing preparedness across Canada.

Finally, AHC will receive up to $4,809,235 to update and review several national Codes of Practice that set animal care and handling guidelines, ensuring high animal welfare standards.

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