Chief Food Safety Officer and Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada
Canada has a strong food safety system founded on sound science and aligned with international standards. The Chief Food Safety Officer (CFSO) plays a key role in ensuring our food safety activities benefit from the latest science and continue to contribute to the health of Canadians and to Canada's overall economic performance.
The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) provides national leadership to ensure that Canada's animal and veterinary public health infrastructure is positioned to effectively manage current and emerging disease threats in order to protect animal and human health.
Chief Food Safety Officer / Delegate to OIE
Dr. Martine
Dubuc, DVM
On March 29, 2013, Dr. Martine Dubuc of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was appointed Canada's new delegate to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Dr. Dubuc joined the CFIA in 2008, as the Vice President of the Agency's Science Branch. She has also held the position of Chief Food Safety Officer for Canada since September 2012.
Through these roles, Dr. Dubuc:
- provides expert advice to food safety program design and regulatory policy development in Canada;
- ensures the required scientific capacity is in place to support an efficient and effective regulatory regime that protects human, animal and plant health as well as the environment;
- is responsible for the CFIA's animal, food and plant laboratory network.
Prior to joining the CFIA, Dr. Dubuc worked at senior levels in the Quebec government, where she was responsible for animal health and food safety programs. In 2006, she was awarded the Prix Mérite for her contribution to the provincial public service.
Dr. Dubuc holds a doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Montreal.
The CFSO will provide expert advice to food safety program design and regulatory policy development in Canada which takes into account evolving and emerging food safety risks, global trends and best practices. The position also provides executive leadership in collaboration with Canada's Chief Public Health Officer in the management of national and international food safety emergencies.
Chief Veterinary Officer
Dr. Ian
Alexander
Dr. Ian Alexander was appointed the Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada in September 2012. He joined the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in 2010 in his current role as the Executive Director of the Animal Health Directorate in the Policy and Programs Branch.
Prior to joining the CFIA, Dr. Alexander spent 23 years working in the veterinary drugs program at Health Canada in a progression of roles including Director of Clinical Evaluation and Acting Director General of the Veterinary Drugs Directorate.
He served as the Government of Canada's representative to the Steering Committee of VICH (International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products) from 2002 to 2010.
Dr. Alexander has an Honours B. Sc. degree in Biology from the University of Ottawa and an M. Sc and Ph.D in Veterinary Pharmacology/Toxicology as well as a Doctorate of Veterinary of Medicine from the University of Guelph.
As Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Alexander will provide national leadership to ensure that Canada's animal and veterinary public health infrastructure is positioned to effectively manage current and emerging disease threats in order to protect animal and human health, and to maintain international trust in Canada's inspection and certification systems in support of market access.
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