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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced terms of reference for an investigation into the recent listeriosis outbreak.
The announcement comes a day before the start of a federal election campaign.
Mr. Harper's office says the investigation will include a look into “the efficiency and effectiveness” of federal agencies' response to the outbreak, which has claimed at least 13 lives.
Mr. Harper's Conservative government has come under fire for quietly shifting some responsibility for food inspection and monitoring to the industry in March before the outbreak began.
The Liberal Opposition has criticized him for delaying the investigation until after the Oct. 14 election, expected to begin Sunday when Mr. Harper pays a visit to Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean.
The probe will examine “events, circumstances and factors” that contributed to the listeriosis outbreak, traced to slicing equipment at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto.
The investigation will also look at the effectiveness of prevention programs, the recall of contaminated products and collaboration and communication among agencies and the public.
The investigators will make recommendations aimed at enhancing prevention and the removal of contaminated products from stores and warehouses.
The report is due before next March 15.
Thirty-eight cases of listeriosis have been confirmed across the country and 20 more are suspected.
In all, Maple Leaf has recalled nearly 200 food products as a result of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the government in Quebec expanded its recall of cheese products Saturday to 11 cheeses from eight. At least one person in Quebec has died and 14 have become ill with listeriosis. The cases are linked to the Quebec cheese recalls.
