Meat Inspection Program
Complaint Resolution Process for Meat Plant Operators

OMAFRA is committed to ensuring meat plant operators are treated with professionalism, objectivity and respect. We are committed to the principles of negotiation and mediation in dealing with any complaint a client may have.

As a meat plant operator, there may be instances when you feel your concerns are not being addressed to your satisfaction after you have attempted to resolve problems or disagreements through discussion and conciliation with your meat inspector. OMAFRA wants to help you and has options in place to assist you. As outlined in the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 and regulations, an operator may request a hearing with respect to any regulatory issue.

Complaints Related to Any Regulatory Issue

1. Request a hearing verbally or in writing

   Address your request to the Hearing Coordinator (see contact information on reverse).

   Information will be sent to you prior to the hearing. If there is a negative impact on your licence as a result of the hearing (e.g. suspension or revocation), you may appeal this decision to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (AFRAAT).

2. Request an appeal with AFRAAT

   Address your request in writing to the Tribunal Coordinator (see contact information on reverse).

   Your request will be reviewed and you will be notified in writing as to whether an appeal will be heard, and if so, where and when.

If you have concerns related to an inspector's approach or you are not understanding why the inspector has asked you to make specific changes, here are the steps to follow:

1. Contact the Area Manager

   First contact the Area Manager.

   The Area Manager will work with you and the inspector to find a resolution to your concerns.

   If the outcome of the process is not satisfactory, follow Step

2. Contact the Regional Manager

   Make a complaint in writing to the Regional Manager (see contact list below). This can be done by mail, e-mail or fax. Include a description of the situation and all details that are relevant for the Regional Manager to understand your concerns and position.

   The Regional Manager will document and acknowledge your complaint within two business days. He/she will indicate when the complaint will be addressed and when you will be notified, and will follow up with any required action within that timeframe.

Contact information

Hearings:

Lori VandenBussche
Hearing Coordinator
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor
Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2
Tel: 519-826-4537
Fax: 519-826-3940
lori.vandenbussche@ontario.ca

Appeals:

The Tribunal Coordinator
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal
1 Stone Road West, 2nd Floor
Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2
Tel: 519-826-3433
Fax: 519-826-4232
appeals.tribunal.omafra@ontario.ca

Note: Hearings/appeals will be held in Guelph unless the licensee lives outside of a two-hour drive of Guelph, in which case, the hearing may be held in the licensee's area.

Meat Inspection Area Managers

Guelph	Area Mgr	Kathryn	Evans-Bitten	519-994-3244
Stratford	Area Mgr	Eric	DeBoer	519-274-9123
Vineland	Area Mgr	Goce	Manevski	905-515-5500
Woodstock	Area Mgr	Katy	Field	519-788-6533
Ridgetown	Area Mgr (A)	Nick	Van Lankveld	226-820-2102
Kemptville	Area Mgr	Peter	Fitzpatrick	613-246-0070
Brighton	Area Mgr	Robin	Drew	613-848-1432
Midhurst	Area Mgr	Eloise	Jones	416-433-2483
Peel	Area Mgr	Alan	Yee	905-903-5389
GTA	Area Mgr	Ivona	Jarosz	647-231-8866
York	Area Mgr	Natasha	Jordanovska	416-728-0326
Verner	Area Mgr	Vicky	French	705-491-2523

Area	Regional Manager	Telephone
West	Nick Van Lankveld	226-820-2102
East	Kim Landers	289-213-4081
Central/North	Pierre Adrien	416-524-1851

References

• OMAFRA Performance Standards
• Regulator's Code of Practice
• About the Hearing Process (website)
• Have you been called to a hearing?
• Appeals Tribunal (website)
• The Appeal Process — Getting Started