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Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says layoffs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will not affect the health and safety of Canadians, despite assertions from NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and the food inspectors’ union.

“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is not making any changes that would in any way place food safety at risk,” Ritz said in a statement to the National Post.

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The union representing federal food inspectors says that up to 100 inspector jobs may be lost at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency because of the budget cuts. CFIA will see 308 job losses in total.

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But the government says changes to CFIA will be “adjustments to some non-food safety programs” and the department is modernizing its system.

“The Harper Government reaffirmed our strong commitment to food safety with $51 million in the budget for key food safety activities over the next two years,” Ritz said.