The Canadian federal government will cease inspection of provincial slaughterhouses in order to shore up Ottawa’s coffers, according to Canadian media reports.

The move, to be implemented by January 2014, will affect some 100 slaughterhouses in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, whose inspection will then be the responsibility of the provinces.

Ottawa’s decision struck a chord with the union that represents federal food safety inspectors, who say food safety will be compromised in those provinces as a result.

CFIA told Postmedia News, however, that it’s simply handing back provincial inspection to provincial authority, as the plants are licensed with the province, and focusing on federally registered plants.

CFIA will reportedly save about $4 million annually as a result of ending its inspection services in the provinces.