Nunavut’s food inspection reports still inaccessible
“I think the public needs to know that information”
From left: Acting Deputy Minister of Health Linnea Ingebrigtson, Health Minister George Hickes and Greg Babstock, executive director of Corporate Services appear before committee of the whole Feb. 26. (Photo by Sarah Rogers)
Nunavut Health Minister George Hickes says the territory needs more time before health inspection reports on restaurants are accessible to the public.
Hickes offered the remarks in response to questions by Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Lightstone on Feb. 25, during a committee of the whole review of the Health Department’s budget.
As things stand, Nunavut is the only province or territory in the country where these reports are not available to the public.
“I am concerned for the safety of the individuals who are consuming the foods in these establishments,” Lightstone said.
“Right now I and the public have no idea what the results of health inspections are in our restaurants.”
The Government of Nunavut was first pressed to respond to the issue in 2016, when a CBC investigation found that nearly a third of all restaurant inspections in the territory had resulted in at least one violation, mostly related to sanitation and food storage.
The GN has since invested in software that’s being customized for food inspections, while the department is working to implement a database in which those reports would be filed away for public access.
“It’s a work in progress,” Hickes told the legislature.
“[It’s] making sure that the inspections are done and reported in a consistent fashion where right now, every environmental health officer has their own handwriting … to make it to be able to grab all that information out of those reports. This software is going to help.”
But even then, it would require changes to Nunavut’s Public Health Act to require the department to make the reports publicly accessible or oblige restaurants to post the results of those inspections.
Hickes said regulations are being developed, but couldn’t specify what they are or when they would be implemented.
Responding to Lightstone’s questions about the number of facilities that are repeatedly failing food inspections in Nunavut, the health minister said he’s not aware of any.
If an establishment should face any major infractions, an environmental health officer has the ability to shut that facility, Hickes noted, adding “I am not aware of any cases that came to that level.”
The GN had initially said it hoped to have the database in place in 2018.
Lightstone urged the department to make it a priority.
“I think it’s in the public’s best interest that those reports are made public and done so immediately, and if not, in the most expedited manner, whether it’s on the Department of Health website or restaurants are forced to publicly display the results of those inspections,” he said.
“I think the public needs to know that information and I request the minister commit to do something immediately.”
In 2017, the Baffin Deli, owned by Qikiqtaaluk Corp., shut down following news stories by CBC that showed unflattering health inspection reports that reported serious food safety violations.
I wish that our health inspectors would go more often in our grocery stores ensure that our produce, fresh meats, baked goods are fresh. I don’t know how many times I have seen rotting produce still on our shelves for sale and full price at that too!! Berries in particular are very frequently mouldy at the bottom of the package, packaged lettuce , fresh chicken slimy etc.
What is a health inspector? Never seen one
I think the term we use in Nunavut is Environmental Health Officer.
Really? This is what you bring to the house? Once the inspection reports are out in the public, what do we or you do with them? Crazy. Have you ever accessed food inspection reports for any restaurant you ate at down south? This government and their elected leaders are insane.