Ontario Pork believes that given the Framework is eight years old and that human and animal health emergencies have been faced since then, along with climate emergencies, a thorough review of the Framework is critical. The 2016 Framework lacks consideration for impactful non-climate related emergencies. This includes human diseases like the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly disrupted agriculture by hindering agri-food workers’ ability to fulfill their duties. Additionally, we recommend incorporating cybersecurity as a potential emergency, given that cyberattacks can severely impact agriculture and food security.
Over the past six years, with significant support from both the provincial and federal governments, Ontario Pork has devoted significant time and resources to developing a comprehensive emergency preparedness and response plan. The industry has proactively been developing a robust response toolkit and has worked diligently to define its roles and responsibilities in emergency situations. However, a key concern remains around a lack of understanding regarding the preparedness levels of other stakeholders, including government agencies and related industries. This knowledge gap could hinder a coordinated and effective response to an emergency.
Review of the 2016 Emergency Management Framework for Agriculture in Canada
Read more by downloading Ontario Pork’s submission, found below.
