Patricia Farnese will serve on the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal for three years
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Federal ag minister Lawrence MacAulay has selected a Saskatchewan ag lawyer and professor to serve on a federal tribunal.
On Friday, MacAulay appointed Patricia Farnese as a member of the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal for a three-year term.
The tribunal provides impartial reviews of notices of violation issues by federal agencies regulating agriculture and food.
“If any (person or organization) is charged with a non-criminal offence under most of the agricultural legislation in Canada, he or she will get a ticket,” Farnese told Farms.com. “Those tickets can be appealed to the tribunal if you’re not satisfied that you committed the offence. Those tickets can apply to everything from food safety to animal health to pesticide regulations.”
Farnese teaches property, agricultural and wildlife law at the University of Saskatchewan. She completed graduate work at the University of Arkansas and was admitted to the bar in 2002.
Practicing ag law is unique compared to other areas of law, she said.
“There’s many issues that people don’t realize have an impact on farmers,” she said. “Agriculture is one of Canada’s most important industries and there are several constraints about how farmers can run their business. Looking at those laws in a critical way to see how they impact farmers and consumers is an important lens to have because it’s not the same as other businesses.
“I’m honoured that Minister MacAulay thinks my expertise can be beneficial to the tribunal.”
MacAulay is confident Farnese can help the tribunal make important decisions.
“Ms. Farnese’s experience and knowledge of agriculture law will greatly benefit the Tribunal in its vital role protecting the health and well-being of consumers and the economic vibrancy of Canadian agri-food industries,” he said in a statement Friday.
The tribunal’s most recent decision came in November.
The group required someone to pay $1,300 for violating subsection 16 (1) of the Health of Animals Act after failing to report the importation of beef-stuffed peppers in 2015.