The Durham Food Policy Council is a community-based organization that has been working since 2010 to create an environment that supports community food security through food sovereignty and a sustainable local food system in the Region of Durham. In the autumn of 2018, we surveyed 400 local stakeholders about the food system in Durham. Based on their responses, we ask you to respond to the following questions[1]:
1. 12% or 78,000 residents of Durham are food insecure.[2] It is important to ensure that all Canadians can access healthy, sufficient, culturally appropriate food. Given the link between poverty and food insecurity, what is your party's perspective and approach to poverty reduction, including tax reform and a guaranteed annual income?
2. While the Food Policy for Canada represents a big step in the right direction, it does not refer to the right to food, an international human right and an obligation that Canada agreed to when it signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1976. Going forward, how would you ensure that A Food Policy for Canada upholds the right to food?
3. From 2011 to 2016, the number of farms in Durham decreased by 9% and the land area of farms in Durham decreased by 1.4%.[3] What policies do you feel are important to ensure the long-term sustainability of our agricultural industry, including small, medium, new, and existing farms, as well as new entrepreneurs?
4. Please share any of your comments regarding the ways you would work towards developing a just and sustainable local food system.
Thank you. Your responses will be shared with our stakeholders to help them make informed decisions about our food system when they vote in the upcoming election.
[1] Some questions have been adapted from Food Secure Canada. (2019) Eat Think Vote. eatthinkvote.ca
[2] Durham Region Health Department. (2018). Food Poverty in Durham. https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/resources/Documents/HealthyLiving/FoodPovertyInDurhamInfographic.pdf
[3] Durham Region. (2017). The Regional Municipality of Durham Information Report #2017-INFO-71. https://www.durham.ca/en/living-here/resources/Documents/EnvironmentalStability/2017-INFO-71-2016-Census-of-Agricultural.pdf