Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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1400 Merivale Rd
Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the Federal government regulatory agency that is responsible for the delivery of all federally mandated food inspection, plant protection and animal health programs and consumer protection as it relates to food.

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Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Kathleen MacDonald, a program and policy specialist at Canadian Food Inspection Agency   (Photo credit: Dan MacDonald / Purple House Photography)

Recognized as one of National Capital Region's Top Employers (2025):

By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Mar 3, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Canadian Food Inspection Agency was selected as one of National Capital Region's Top Employers (2025):

  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides long-serving employees with the option to apply for additional time off through educational leave, unpaid leave and self-funded leaves programs
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency supports employees starting a family with maternity and parental leave top-ups, providing a full year of paid leave for new mothers and 93 per cent of salary for up to 37 weeks for fathers and adoptive parents
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency helps employees prepare for the next chapter of their lives with contributions to a defined contribution pension plan, a formal pre-retirement transition program and extended health benefits for retirees (75 per cent premium coverage and no age limit)
Dr. Yves Robinson, a veterinary pathologist at Canadian Food Inspection Agency  

Highlights

Industry Federal government, food inspection and regulation
Established in Canada 1997
Major Canadian locations Burnaby BC, Calgary AB, Guelph ON, Montréal QC, Moncton NB, Ottawa ON
Full-time employees in Canada 7,123
Part-time employees in Canada 367
Average age of employees in Canada 44.5 years
Longest serving employee 26.7 years
Flexible work options hybrid work option, flexible work hours, compressed work week, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), telecommuting
Long-term savings defined-contribution (DC) pension
Health plan premium as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums
Mental health practitioner benefit up to $5,000 each year
Maternity top-up (mothers) up to 93% of salary for 18 weeks
Parental top-up (mothers) up to 93% of salary for 34 weeks
Parental top-up (fathers) up to 93% of salary for 37 weeks
Adoption top-up up to 93% of salary for 37 weeks
Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Outside survey period outside consultant surveys are held every 24 months
Employee performance reviews employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months
In-house training initiatives apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, in-house training, online training, mentoring, leadership development programs, paid internships
Tuition subsidies (related to job) yes
Employee charitable involvement employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 2 paid days)

Recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2025):

By Kristina Leung, Chantel Watkins, and Cypress Weston, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 20, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Canadian Food Inspection Agency was selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2025):

  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency offers a veterinary summer student internship program, hiring students for a 12-week period to work on summer projects across various agency branches and other government departments
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency also maintains an Indigenous summer student program, which includes mentorship from a full-time Indigenous employee, opportunities to participate in cultural events, skill building workshops and networking opportunities
  • Prior to their start date, students at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency receive a dedicated student onboarding guide that provides guidance and information to support a smooth transition into the workplace -- the organization also hosts student onboarding events to provide new employees with the opportunity connect with peers
Doris Do, a laboratory analyst at Canadian Food Inspection Agency  

Highlights

Industry Federal government, food inspection and regulation
Major Canadian locations Burnaby BC, Calgary AB, Guelph ON, Montréal QC, Moncton NB, Ottawa ON
Full-time employees in Canada 7,123
Student opportunities summer jobs, co-op opportunities, paid internships
In-house training programs orientation program, in-house training, online training, in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory, mentoring, apprenticeship/skilled trades programs
Tuition subsidies (related to job) yes
Unique training and development opportunities veterinary summer student internship program (12-week program, students work on summer projects across various agency branches and government departments)
Additional highlights Indigenous summer student program with mentorship from an Indigenous employee (also hosts cultural events, skills training workshops, networking opportunities), student onboarding information sessions (9 events held throughout the summer), student onboarding guide, student bridging inventory (matches current or previously employed students with vacancies within the organization based on their educational and work experience)
Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2025):

By Kristina Leung, Chantel Watkins, and Cypress Weston, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Feb 24, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Canadian Food Inspection Agency was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2025):

  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency created a BIPOC Career Navigator role, who provides advice and guidance to BIPOC employees in career development and offers tools to support the job application process, including mock interviews, resume and cover letter preparation
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency created a diverse selection board member inventory composed of employees who volunteer to serve on selection boards and assist in identifying potential barriers and biases in the selection process -- the agency also shares employment equity workforce data with staffing and recruitment teams to ensure hiring managers are aware of any gaps in representation
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency implemented an Accessibility Report and Action Plan to improve representation and supports for persons with disabilities -- the plan includes efforts to recruit and retain individuals with disabilities by establishing partnerships with external organizations for targeted recruitment initiatives and creating dedicated hiring pools of candidates who self-identify as persons with disabilities
Dr. Perminder Bansal, a national specialist at Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ottawa  

Highlights

Industry Federal government, food inspection and regulation
Major Canadian locations Burnaby BC, Calgary AB, Guelph ON, Montréal QC, Moncton NB, Ottawa ON
Full-time employees in Canada 7,123
Management of diversity and inclusion initiatives equity and diversity steering committee, led by the chief diversity officer (also serves as the agency's diversity champion), national Indigenous advisory circle (employees provide Indigenous perspectives to the agency)
Performance management and accountability measures mobility data (number of hires, promotions, departures), semi-annual and quarterly workforce employment equity representation data is provided to staffing and recruitment teams, tracks candidates recruited from equity groups, commitments to diversity and inclusion are included in every executive's performance management agreement, Government of Canada commitments on diversity and inclusion (Advancing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) included in executives' performance management agreements
Employee resource groups national networks include: Employee Accessibility Network, 2SLGBTQIA+ Network, Visible Minority Forum, Black Employees Network, Women’s Circle, National Indigenous Advisory Circle; area networks that focus on diversity and inclusion initiatives from a regional perspective (four distinct geographic areas)
Noteworthy diversity strategies and policies anti-racism taskforce, includes a BIPOC career navigator role (advice and guidance to BIPOC employees on career development), diverse selection board member inventory (employee volunteers for selection boards, assist in identifying potential barriers and biases in selection), proactively discloses cases of reported discrimination and harassment for transparency
Recruitment initiatives Indigenous summer student program (offers cultural teachings, support, professional development training, and networking opportunities in addition to the work placement), partners with LiveWorkPlay to hire individuals with intellectual disabilities, diversity and HR programs Indigenous team engages with Indigenous communities, post-secondary institutions, friendship centres, working groups and communities of practice to promote Indigenous recruitment at the organization, national Diverse Selection Board Members Inventory comprised of volunteers from equity-deserving groups to assist managers with recruitment activities, reconciliation action plan and strategy
Retention and development programs partners with Indigenous Services Canada to offer seats at the professional development programs they offer: Indigenous career management for employees program (2-year program for Indigenous employees at the EX-3 level and lower) and Indigenous managerial development program, official language training pilot program for BIPOC employees
Training and awareness initiatives unconscious bias course, staffing guidance tools for managers in the hiring process, dedicated intranet page for diversity and inclusion resources and training sessions
Diversity highlights is working on a disabilities action plan, piloting an official languages training to help BIPOC with career progression, connects with other Government of Canada departments and agencies for best practices in Indigenous recruitment, Women's Circle hosted a virtual self-defence class

The Career Directory

Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
Members of the Indigenous Employee Network at Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Highlights for New Grads

Industry Federal government, food inspection and regulation
Full-time employees in Canada 5,001 to 10,000
Major Canadian locations Burnaby BC, Calgary AB, Guelph ON, Montréal QC, Moncton NB, Ottawa ON
Student opportunities paid internships, summer jobs, co-op opportunities
Training subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services
Tuition subsidies (related to job) yes
Typical new grad positions Biologist, Chemist, Inspector, Laboratory Technician, Veterinarian, Administrative Assistant, Human Resources Assistant, Communications Advisor, Computer Systems Professional, Financial Analyst, Human Resources Professional, Policy Officer, Statistician
Work benefits health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, employees receive paid time off to volunteer
Vacation allowance new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job

Academic fields recruited

  • Bachelor of Arts
    • Business
    • Economics
    • Human Resources
    • Industrial Relations
    • Journalism
    • Political Science
    • Psychology
    • Public Relations / Communications
    • Sociology
  • Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
    • Accounting
    • Finance
    • Human Resources
    • Information Systems
    • Marketing
    • Public Administration
  • Bachelor of Science
    • Agriculture / Horticulture
    • Animal Sciences / Medicine
    • Biochemistry
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computer Science
    • Epidemiology
    • Forestry
    • Health Sciences
    • Immunology
    • Microbiology
    • Nutrition
  • Community College Diploma
    • Agriculture / Horticulture
    • Animal Health
    • Business
    • Communications / Public Relations
    • Computer Science
    • Forestry
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Laboratory Technician
  • Doctorate (Science)
    • Animal Sciences / Veterinary Medicine
    • Biochemistry
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computer Science
    • Epidemiology
    • Health Sciences
    • Immunology
    • Microbiology
    • Nutrition
  • Master of Arts
    • Economics
    • Human Resources
    • Industrial Relations
    • Journalism
    • Political Science
    • Public Relations
    • Sociology
  • Master of Business Administration
    • Accounting
    • Finance
    • Human Resources
    • Information Systems
    • Marketing
    • Public Administration
  • Master of Science
    • Agriculture / Horticulture
    • Animal Sciences / Medicine
    • Biochemistry
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computer Science
    • Forestry
    • Health Sciences
    • Immunology
    • Nutrition

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