Bill C-579 (Historical)
National Local Food Day Act
An Act respecting a National Local Food Day
This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.
Sponsor
Malcolm Allen NDP
Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Status
Introduction and First Reading
(This bill did not become law.)
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, provided by the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Denise Savoie Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, this Thanksgiving I want to express my gratitude for the diverse, creative and caring community I represent: churches such as St. John the Divine working to alleviate homelessness; the talented students at the Canadian College of Performing Arts; the University of Victoria's NEPTUNE Canada and its pioneering research under the ocean; as well as the Dogwood Initiative fighting tanker traffic.
This being harvest time, I want to offer special recognition to Victoria's strong local food movement: dedicated organic farmers, chefs and co-ops, local food advocates such as Lee Fuge, and groups such as LifeCycles and CR-FAIR. Sadly, Canadian agriculture policy as it stands is biased against small producers.
In addition to giving thanks, let us adopt a new policy for food security, sovereignty and sustainability, and let us back Bill C-579 to make every Friday before Thanksgiving a national local food day.
Malcolm Allen Welland, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-579, An Act respecting a National Local Food Day.
Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thank my colleagues for their indulgence.
This bill would give thanks to agricultural producers across this country by declaring the Friday prior to Thanksgiving national local food day. Passage of this bill would allow us to recognize and give thanks to those who produce the food that everyone across this country consumes day to day.
I hope my colleagues will support my bill. I also hope that they thank farmers in their local communities. We think of them often, but we just do not say thanks. As I sit down with my family this weekend and give thanks for my family and for this great country, I will also give thanks to all those involved in the farm community.
I hope all members will endorse my bill so we can recognize farmers at least one day during the year as we head into the Thanksgiving weekend.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)