Toronto, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth Julie Dabrusin visited Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre to highlight Government investments for a better food system, as part of the Food Policy for Canada.
As announced on June 17th by the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Food Policy for Canada is the product of consultation and collaboration with more than 45,000 Canadians across the country.
The vision for the Food Policy for Canada developed through these consultations is: All people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious and culturally diverse food. Canada’s food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment, and supports our economy.
To realize this vision, the Government of Canada is investing more than $134 million through Budget 2019 to support new initiatives in key action areas, including launching a $50 million Local Food Infrastructure Fund, designed to support community-led projects that improve access to safe, healthy and culturally diverse food. Starting August 15, 2019, eligible organizations will be invited to submit an application through the first intake period for non-repayable funding of up to $25,000.
The Food Policy also provides a coordinated and collaborative approach to tackle other pressing food issues that matter to Canadians, including combatting food security in the North, cracking down on the deliberate mislabeling of food, reducing food waste, launching a “Buy Canadian” promotion campaign for high-quality Canadian foods, and taking the first steps towards the creation of a National School Food Program.
The Food Policy for Canada aligns with the objectives of initiatives across the Federal Government, such as the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Heathy Eating Strategy, and the Poverty Reduction Strategy, among others.
Source : Government Of Canada