FSC News
Local - What's in a Word?
In March of this year Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne  re-introduced the Local Food Act, in which local is defined as the province of Ontario. This soon ran afoul of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the little known federal definition of local. A couple of small business owners in Ontario could have warned her of that. These same businesses were under threat of fines from the Canadian Food Inspection agency for labeling as “local” food sourced from more than 50km away – this contravened the definition of local, enshrined in federal regulations since 1974.
Fast forward to May 10th and the CFIA announced that it will be modernizing its food labeling approach, including the definition of local, “with input from consumers, industry and other stakeholders”. While most would agree that 50km is overly restrictive, there are serious challenges to codifying a term such as “local” for a country as large as Canada. Read more and share your thoughts.
Quebec Adopts a Food Sovereignty Policy
Last week the Pauline Marois government of Quebec released its long-awaited “food sovereignty” policy (available in French only) and, along with it, created an advisory committee which brings together key actors in the food system.
There is good news and bad news about this policy.
Good News
On the positive side, we have a North American government quoting la Via Campesina as a source for a new policy orientation! Continue reading.
News from our Networks: Local and Sustainable Food Systems Resource
Across North America, sustainable food systems are being rebuilt and food hubs  have been identified as one of the building blocks to a vibrant foodshed. To better understand what it takes to make a successful food hub, the webinar The Business of Food Hubs provides insightful and practical information on the differences between elements of feasibility studies and business plans. Presenters Kathy Nyquist and Jim Slama then go on to embed the theory in actual case studies of two food hubs. Additional resource material help to round out the offerings of information that can help to set a food hub project on the right track to business viability.
Bloggers Wanted
.jpg) What do you get when you mix FSC with a not -for-profit progressive news outlet? You get a food matters column, that’s what!
In a few months, FSC will launch a new partnership with rabble.ca, tentatively called Ground-breakers! This collaboration will allow for food movement matters to be pop up on rabble.ca and also run the chance of appearing in your weekly free news publications (often an entertainment weekly or local community papers). To make this happen, we need bloggers, writers, experts and activists in our network who have something new and exciting to say about food to step forward. Not only will your column appear on rabble.ca, where there is news for the rest of us, it will also be promoted in publications across the country as a free syndicated column about food.
We need you (or you and a group of friends or your organization), to agree to write 3-4 times a year, about 600 words each time. If you are interested in being part of this initiative, please fill out this form and spread the word. Also, send us a sample of your work at communications@foodsecurecanada.org. There is no money for our writers but there is enhanced visibility for the issues you care about and new audiences you can reach, right across the country.
FSC's 2012 Financial Statements
We’ve been telling you how much FSC has grown in the past year and now you can see it for yourself. FSC's 2012 Financial Statements are ready. Come take a look. Our financial statements were approved by the Steering Committee on May 3 2013.
New Logo Coming Soon!
Our new logo is almost here folks! We’ve given a graphic designer the difficult mandate of finding us a new representative image and the process has been exciting. Replacing our current logo is not an easy task, but we look forward to sharing our new one with you by mid-summer.
People's Food Policy Project - Big in Japan
No really, the People's Food Policy Project is big in Japan! Last April, a 17-page report on the country-wide process was featured in a Japanese Public Sector-Policy Institute Journal. The PFPP continues to inspire communities across the world, providing them with a blue-print of effective civil society consultations. The work accomplished by volunteers across Canada to make it happen is quite remarkable and seeing it being recognized internationally is simply delightful. Read the English version of the report here.
FSC's Calendar is back!
Looking for food events in your community? Want to let others know about your event? Put it in our Calendar! This new addition to our website will make sharing your events with our entire community much easier.
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