Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended March 31, 2010
The Health of Animals Act and the Plant Protection Act allow for the Minister, via the Agency, to compensate owners of animals and plants destroyed pursuant to the Acts. During the year, compensation payments incurred pursuant to these two Acts totaled $7,274,000 (2009 - $20,480,000). These payments pertained to the following diseases:
| (in thousands of dollars) | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Wasting Disease | $2,633 | $6,306 |
| Sudden Oak Death | 1,888 | 10,478 |
| Anaplasmosis | 971 | - |
| Plum Pox Virus | 775 | 720 |
| Scrapie | 120 | 444 |
| Asian Long Horn Beetle | 89 | 469 |
| Avian Influenza | 12 | 1,198 |
| Other | 786 | 865 |
| $7,274 | $20,480 |
(a) Claims (including legal claims and employee grievances) and litigation
Claims relating to both legal and employee grievances have been made against the Agency in the normal course of operations. Some of these potential liabilities may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimate of liability is accrued and an expense recorded in the financial statements.
Amounts have been accrued for contingent liabilities as at March 31, 2010 pertaining to legal claims. The amount of the contingent liabilities for legal claims recognized is based on management's best estimate. Other legal claims against the Agency and other defendants include class action suits related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) for which amounts and likelihood of liability cannot be determined.
No amounts have been accrued pertaining to employee grievances as at March 31, 2010.
b) Contaminated sites
Liabilities are accrued to record the estimated costs related to the management and remediation of contaminated sites where the Agency is obligated or likely to be obligated to incur such costs. There are currently no known contaminated sites identified where such action is possible. The Agency's ongoing effort to assess contaminated sites may result in additional environmental liabilities related to newly identified sites, or changes in the assessments or intended use of existing sites. These liabilities will be accrued by the Agency in the year in which they become known.