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441-00890 (Food and drink)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada:

WHEREAS:

  • Farmers Markets are a key tool for covid-19 recovery as small business incubators, domestics system and food security builders, and local economy community builders and Farmers' Market Coupon Programs are a key support for new Market development and support for existing Markets and their provincial Associations;

  • Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Programs help create food security and resiliency by giving vulnerable people access to healthy locally grown foods and dietary education while positively impacting the physical and mental health of participants by increasing the amount and diversity of fruits and vegetables they consume;

  • The BC Farmers' Market Association with 135 member markets and 4000+ vendors and it's long-term partnership with the province of BC provides an excellent model for Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Programs; providing almost 16000 vulnerable families, seniors and pregnant women with access to weekly coupons, and seeing 1,909,000 to local farmers. Their current program has an average coupon redemption rate of over 91% and 79% of those participants claim the program made a long term change in their eating habits; and

  • A national matching program would assist in meeting those demands, encourage provinces without a provincial program to create one, and support those provinces who have a provincial program to expand to meet demand.

Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to support Motion M-78 and initiate a national matching program for all provincial Farmers' Markets Nutrition Coupon Programs across Canada that would match provinces who are already contributing to their Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program and encourage Provinces that do not have such a program to implement one by offering matching funding

Response by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, PC, MP

On June 17, 2019, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) launched the first Food Policy for Canada, a whole-of-government approach supporting the vision that “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.” 

The Food Policy for Canada is an ambitious initiative, the product of consultation and collaboration with Canadians across the country. The Government of Canada heard from more than 45,000 Canadians, including agricultural producers and processors, experts in environment, health and food security, Indigenous groups, non-government organizations, and community advocates. 

Recognizing the importance of helping communities access healthy food, AAFC is delivering the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, a Food Policy initiative with $60 million in funding to strengthen local food systems and to facilitate access to safe and nutritious food for at-risk populations. 

To date, the Local Food Infrastructure Fund has committed $55.1 million to support over 900 vital food security projects across Canada, such as: community gardens and kitchens; refrigerated trucks and storage units for donated food; greenhouses in remote and Northern communities; and more.

The Government of Canada also delivered the $330 million Emergency Food Security Fund by providing funding to national and regional organizations, which in turn supported food banks and local food organizations across Canada. This emergency fund helped improve access to food for people experiencing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In British Columbia, the FMNCP program is supported by the Province of British Columbia, the Provincial Health Services Authority and community donors. The Public Health Agency of Canada’s Multisectoral Partnership Program supported a similar initiative, with an investment of $1.5M from 2020 to 2024 to expand Community Food Centres Canada’s Market Greens initiative to 30 locations across Canada. The Market Greens initiative supports increased access to low-cost fresh produce markets and offers fruit and vegetable vouchers/coupons that can be used at participating local affordable markets. 

Thank you for the sharing your proposal to improve Canadians’ access to healthy, local foods through farmers markets and FMNCPs. The Government of Canada remains committed to considering all opportunities to improve food security for Canadians and a vibrant, productive agriculture sector in Canada. 

Presented to the House of Commons
Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni)
November 30, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00890)
Government response tabled
January 18, 2023
Photo - Gord Johns
Courtenay—Alberni
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.