The Conservative government pledged Tuesday to boost spending on Canada's food inspection system by $100 million over the next five years.

The additional money for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is needed to fix problems flagged in 2009 after a deadly listeriosis outbreak, the government said.

Independent investigator Sheila Weatherill identified a series of food-safety gaps in Canada -including a void in leadership within the federal government -that helped contribute to a listeriosis outbreak in 2008 that left 22 Canadians dead.

They had all consumed tainted deli meats produced at a federally inspected plant in Toronto, operated by Maple Leaf Foods.

"This initiative will enable the government to complete its response to all of the recommendations of the Weatherill Report through targeted investments in inspector training, additional science capacity, and electronic tools to support the work of front-line inspectors," the budget states.

Before Tuesday's announcement, the CFIA expected a decrease in its budget for work on food safety and nutrition risks for the upcoming fiscal year compared to two years ago.