Workshop Sept 2007

National Animal Health Strategy
Multi-partner Workshop

September 18-19, 2007

September 2007 Workshop Summary Report

Introduction

The Government of Canada1 is developing a National Animal Health Strategy (NAHS) to address the convergence of a number of drivers, including zoonotic and public health risks, environmental sustainability and ecosystem management, changing societal values, food safety, and the security and economic opportunities of the live animal production sector.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is leading NAHS development, which will provide an integrated and comprehensive framework for animal health and welfare in Canada, including farmed animals, wildlife, companion animals, zoo/aquarium animals, and animals used for science/research.  A collaborative approach is being used to develop the Strategy, in recognition of the many and varied partners and stakeholders, comprising Canada's animal sectors, and of the need to work together.

A first Multi-Partner Workshop was held in June 2007 to begin mapping out the current roles and responsibilities of the players involved in the NAHS.  This workshop, the second of a series, was held in Gatineau, Quebec, on September 18–19, 2007.

This second Multi-Partner Workshop was designed to meet the following objectives:

1. to share the preliminary results of research done by the NAHS Team on Canada's animal health system
2. to finalize the proposed definitions for animal health
3. to determine the scope of the NAHS and the focus areas it should address
4. to understand the next steps leading to the Multi-Partner Workshop scheduled for January 15–16, 2008.

Preparation Work for the Multi-Partner Workshop

Over the course of Summer 2007, several working groups were established as a means to begin the reflection process that would contribute to identifying common definitions on key terms, such as animal health and animal welfare, and the identification of the principal themes of the NAHS.  The results of these deliberations were compiled by members of the NAHS Team and posted in the main room for the duration of the Multi-Partner Workshop. (These are available on the NAHS website at www.healthyanimals.ca.)           

Participants' Expectations

Participants were asked to state their expectations for this Multi-Partner Workshop.  They shared their thoughts with fellow participants at their immediate tables.  These discussions were documented and analyzed for commonalities. 

Seven broad themes emerged:

• Expectation 1 – Begin articulating the key strategies
  
  Participants expected to define the key strategies linked to a National Animal Health Strategy, as well as to determine the impact of these strategies on federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions. 
  A related expectation was that the impact on human, animal and ecosystem health be described, including how that impact would be measured.

• Expectation 2 – Clarify the scope of the NAHS
  
  Participants believed that there was a need to agree on clear definitions of key terms, to define clear responsibilities and to clarify details regarding funding. 
  Another expectation was to have a defined governance “system” for the Strategy.
  
  
• Expectation 3 – Define the interactions between animal health, economic health and human health issues.
  
  
• Expectation 4 – Clarify the role of the working groups and industry associations in the engagement process.
  
  
• Expectation 5 – Address the needs of the farmed animal sector first.
  
  
• Expectation 6 – Identify the differences and similarities between the National Wildlife Disease Strategy and the National Animal Health Strategy.
  
  
• Expectation 7 – Identify the types or groups of animals that would be included in the Strategy, as well as define animal health and animal welfare.