For Immediate Release

Major Parties Receive Food Security Recommendations

Vancouver, BC September 26th –This past Tuesday, the British Columbia Food System Network (BCFSN) submitted recommendations and a brief summary of the core principles of food security, the urgent need for action in B.C., and potential policy directions to the four major provincial parties. The BCFSN has asked that the proposed policy recommendations be considered for inclusion into official party platforms.

The BCFSN is recommending that government allocate more resources for food policy and programs, beginning with increasing the annual budget of the Ministry of Agriculture, over a five-year period, to meet the national average for per-GDP funding and that additional resources be apportioned across several ministries, including Health, Education, Environment, and Social Development, to expand existing food security programs and establish new, targeted inter-ministerial programs[1].

Along with broad recommendations, the policy brief provides twenty?two possible policy directions as examples of how additional resources could be allocated. The array of options is intended to give parties flexibility in choosing which policy directions they can support. In general, the BCFSN recommends that parties commit to addressing food insecurity and establish a framework for action.

In response to recent announcements by Finance Minister Mike de Jong regarding the provincial deficit the BCFSN recognizes that improving food security and population health would lead to public health care savings, as poor nutrition and food insecurity are linked to chronic health problems and costs. In addition, the BCFSN believes that by not investing in agriculture, B.C is missing an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for organic, local, regional and Canadian food.

The British Columbia Food System Network seeks dialogue with politicians, political parties, and the public in the weeks and months ahead of the next provincial election to elicit the ideas and values of British Columbians with a vision to eliminating food insecurity in our lifetime -and improve the health of all British Columbians.

The British Columbia Food System Network (BCFSN) is comprised of farmers, food activists, health promoters, Indigenous peoples, academics, municipal workers, educators, labour unions, and others who are concerned about food security in BC.  To find out more visit www.fooddemocracy.org

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