Bits and Bytes | News from the Food Movement - April 2016


There has been lots of work over the last couple of months thinking about how we can develop a public engagement process for the announced national food policy and how we can weave these issues into our upcoming national Assembly. How can we ensure that a diversity of voices will be heard, and that we use all the available policy leavers to ensure that our food system is more equitable, more healthy and more sustainable? Food security levels remain unacceptably high, despite some promising developments on the basic income file, as show by the most recent PROOF report. The question of overuse of antibiotics in our meat supply show very clearly how health issues need to be dealt with in concert with agricultural debates in any food policy discussion. We are looking for a more holistic approach to food and in the coming months you will have many opportunities to be involved. Why not share this newsletter with a friend and get more people involved in the food movement? Stay tuned!
	HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY IN CANADA: PROOF REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 2014 High rates of food insecurity have persisted across the provinces and territories that participated in the survey. Food insecurity is a serious public health problem that takes a measurable toll on individual health and well-being, and costs our health care system. [Read More]
	How We Can Cut Systemic Overuse of Antibiotics in our Food $1-trillion investor coalition demands corporate action on ‘systemic overuse’ of antibiotics in global meat and poultry supply chains [Read More]
	Talking food policy at progress summit On April 2, 160 people representing unions, political parties, civil society, and more joined Food Secure Canada for a luncheon entitled Let’s Talk Food Policy at the Broadbent Institute’s Progress Summit in Ottawa. [Read More]
	Stop marketing to our kids 26 Canadian organizations, and growing, are calling on our governments to restrict food and beverage marketing to children and youth 16 and younger. Together, we stand behind The Ottawa Principles, a set of definitions, scope and principles meant to guide marketing to kids restrictions in Canada. [Read More]
	Thank you amanda Amanda Sheedy, FSC’s Director of Development and Engagement, is moving on from her role with us. Her work has been instrumental not only in advancing the work of FSC, but also in strengthening Canada’s food movement. [Read More]
Other News: Resetting the table update Our call for proposals is now closed. We would like to thank you for the nearly 150 proposals and tours that you have submitted. Please keep in mind that registration for Resetting the Table will open in mid-May. Resetting the Table, Food Secure Canada’s 9th Assembly (Toronto - October 13-16 2016), promises to be our most exciting, diverse and largest yet, nested in a city where the food movement thrives in every neighbourhood. Whether you are a chef, a farmer, a student, a community health organizer, a policy maker, an activist or a business person, Resetting the Table will have a place for you. [Read more] Quebec : Demand GMO labeling to your MNA's Vigilance OGM launched a campaign for mandatory labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Quebec. The campaign will empower the people of Quebec to demand the right to know what GMOs are on their plates and to contribute in making Quebec the first province in Canada, and the second territory in North America, to establish mandatory labelling. [Read more] [CBC] Nutrition North finally gets the boost it needs, says former N.W.T. MP The new federal budget commits $64.5 million over five years for the Nutrition North program, starting in 2016–2017, as well as $13.8 million per year ongoing to expand the program to all Northern isolated communities. [Read more]
		Save the date: Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit June 21 - 23, 2016 Winnipeg, Manitoba The Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit is designed to be a nation-to-nation gathering. Each of the five First Nations will be represented at the Summit, so that people and place can connect, and so that stories will be shared to extend learning across nations. It is the hope that the Summit will be of interest to non-Indigenous nations and learning about this important food movement to extend into all nations. It is a reminder that water, food, sky, and soil connects us all. And that to truly relate to each other we must make the effort to understand Indigenous cultures. [More info] Basic Income conference May 12 - 15, 2016 Winnipeg, Manitoba A Basic Income Guarantee ensures everyone an income sufficient to meet basic needs and live with dignity, regardless of work status. We invite you to join and support the movement for a Basic Income Guarantee for all. [More info] Advancing Food Insecurity Research in Canada (Call for abstracts) November 17 - 18, 2016 Toronto, Ontario Hosted by PROOF. The conference program will include a mix of panel discussions as well as presentations on current research. Trainees and scholars are invited to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations on topics related to understanding the causes and consequences of and responses to food insecurity in Canada, and the translation of food insecurity research into policy and practice. For more information regarding the conference and to submit an abstract, visit. [More info] VIEW COMPLETE EVENTS CALENDAR