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

As the costs of fruits and vegetables look to increase dramatically during 2016 which will impact healthy eating for all Canadians, Food Secure Canada and its partners are calling for a coordinated approach by government ministries. FSC has reached out to Minister of Agriculture, Lawrence MacAulay about the opportunities for national food policy and to the Minister of Health, and Jane Philpott on the need to address unhealthy diets. We are bringing the voice of the food movement to the policy table to ensure that all Canadians have access to healthy, just and sustainable food. With you help we have the ingredients we need for a better food system. Let's stir up a new recipe: better food for all!

THE COST OF FOOD: A NATIONAL FOOD POLICY SHOULD FOCUS ON HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY​

The situation is particularly critical considering that the vast majority of fruits and vegetables eaten by Canadians are imported and that the rate of inflation on food products hit 4.1% today. [Read More]

FOOD IS PART OF THE RECIPE FOR A HEALTHY CANADA #RECIPE4HEALTH

Food Secure Canada and Dr. Norman Campbell, HSF/CIHR Chair of Hypertension Prevention and Control call for action on the leading risk Canadians’ health and well-being: unhealthy diets. [Read More]

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NATIONAL FOOD POLICY: FSC WRITES AN OPEN LETTER TO HONOURABLE LAWRENCE MACAULAY, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD

"Despite the interrelated nature of food issues, Canada lacks a coordinated and integrated approach to ensuring the food system fosters equity, health and sustainability." [Read More]

HEALTHY DIETS: LETTER TO HONOURABLE JANE PHILPOTT, MINISTER OF HEALTH 

An open letter to federal Health Minister Jane Philpott was sent on January 13, 2013 to introduce a Food and Nutrition Fact Sheet and to request a meeting with Minister Philpott and her counterparts in stakeholder ministries to discuss urgent action on the highest-priority items, including sodium/trans fat reduction and marketing to kids. [Read More]

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES

Request for proposals: Research Consultant (February to July 2016); Media Relations Consultant (January to March 2016); Designer graphique (February).  [Read More]

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Other News:

[CBC] Cheap Canadian dollar making fruits and vegetables much more expensive

While the increased costs have dealt a blow to everyone's wallet, they have a more pronounced effect on Canadians living on a tight budget or in remote regions, where fresh fruit and vegetables is more expensive than in more urban areas. [Read more]

[Vancouver Sun] Coalition calls for universal school lunch program

A coalition of local and national groups is trying to put a universal program on the agenda of Canada’s federal, provincial, territorial health ministers meeting in Vancouver later this week. [Read more]

[Youth Caucus] New year means new members! 

The Food Secure Canada Youth Caucus is pleased to welcome new recruits, ready to join their voices to the movement. Welcome on board Juneeja Varghese and Rachel Lévesque! Here is a brief biography of these two foodies. [Read more]

[FAO] Report: The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets

By providing evidence and clarity on a range of topics, the report seeks to contribute to a more informed debate on policy choices and to identify required improvements in the policy processes within which these choices are made. [Read more ]

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Save the Date:

Resetting the table - Food Secure Canada 9th National Assembly in Toronto 2016 

When: October 13-16, 2016 
Where: Toronto, Ontario

Our National Assembly in 2016 will mark 15 years since the idea of Food Secure Canada emerged at a conference held at Ryerson University. Its time to celebrate! Stay tuned for details in the coming months. [More info]

The Great Big Crunch

When: March 10, 2016
Where: Across Canada

The Great Big Crunch, founded and coordinated by FoodShare Toronto, is an annual day of food education in classrooms across the country, culminating in a moment of anti-silence in which school children, teachers, politicians and many more crunch into apples at the same time. The Great Big Crunch celebrates Nutrition Month and calls attention to the importance of healthy school food, food literacy and support for local farmers. [More info]

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