Priorities, people, priorities

Dave, Impolitical, POGGE, and Accidental Deliberations have all taken Healthcuts Minister Tony Clement to task today for his dumbass comments from the "swish lunch reception" at the Democrat convention in Denver, but let's not forget why he's there.

No, it's not, as House leader Peter Van Loan said, about picking up campaign tips.

Tony is the chair of Harper's cabinet committee on the environment and energy security.
Before his departure Wednesday he chaired a closed-door discussion on energy security with American oil and gas company executives in Denver.
So he was kinda busy, you see, at his real job.

But what, people are also asking, what on earth has Agribiz Minister Gerry Ritz to do with the listeriosis outbreak and why is he the government point man on this?
Here's a clue : Whose idea was this then?
"shift from full-time CFIA meat inspection presence to an oversight role, allowing industry to implement food safety control programs and to manage key risks."

Yup, it was Gerry Ritz' idea. He proposed it to the Treasury Board and they approved it.