Description

Helping Canadian Food Businesses grow, expand and trade in new markets is a key priority for the Government of Canada. This session will bring together representatives from 3 organizations- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ( AAFC), The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ( CFIA) and Prairies Economic Development Canada.

The main focus of this webinar is to explore the programs, resources and measures available to support food businesses looking to scale and access new markets.

Hear directly from federal representatives about how their organizations are working to help food businesses overcome barriers, navigate requirements and seize opportunities for growth-both within Canada and Internationally.

 Speakers AAFC - TBD

                 CFIA - Jay Holmes(jay.holmes@inspections.gc.ca)

                 Prairies Can - TBD

The 3 departments will represent a "Team Canada" approach so that abundant information can be shared.

CFIA: Jay Holmes is the Executive Director of the Business Enablement and Service Improvement Directorate. He holds a BSc in Biology and Biotechnology and an MA in International Affairs, both from Carleton University. Jay has spent most of his career with the CFIA, including work on biotechnology policy (Science Branch), emergency management (Operations Branch), in international relations.

Jay also spent time working at Public Safety Canada as part of the Emergency Management and National Security Branch. Jay has extensive experience in the food program where he was the project manager for development of the Safe Food For Canadians Regulations, and was the manager of the food labelling group.

More recently Jay held leadership positions in the CFIA’s food business line as Senior Director of the CFIA’s Consumer Protection and Market Fairness Division and its Food Risk Management Division. In these capacities Jay was also the head of Canada’s Delegation to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international standard setting body for food. In these positions he worked extensively with food stakeholders on regulatory modernization and day-to-day food program issues related to food safety and consumer protection.