On risk management

The CP reports on what looks to be a clear example of an underfunded federal regulator, as the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program - responsible for ensuring that shellfish are free of toxins which have turned up several times in the past - doesn't have enough money or staff to carry out the program's mandate. But have no fear: when it's not denying that there's any problem contrary to all available evidence, the Con government is on the case with their usual solution:

Green also said the aquaculture sector may be asked to do more self-policing.

Because if there's anything you can count on, it's the willingness of industry to present the public with an unbiased report on dangers related to its products in the absence of a regulatory backstop. And that goes doubly when a previous scare based on the toxins which are now going untested resulted in billions of dollars in losses to the seafood industry in general.

Mind you, the Cons' solution might well help to ensure there's no public panic about any future outbreak, as a self-policing industry would have every incentive to avoid keeping any problem under wraps. For those who think it's reasonable to expect that their government will keep track of food safety, though, the Cons are once again going out of their way to disagree rather than enabling a regulator to do its job.