Agriculture committee  I will start. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. It's a pleasure to testify before the committee today. I speak on behalf of Food Secure Canada, a national network of organizations and individuals aiming to achieve three interrelated goals: zero hunger, healthy and safe food, and

Agriculture committee  Well said.

Agriculture committee  I think we all want to admit it to make our list.

Agriculture committee  I would say that if we were to have an empty policy that would sit on a shelf with no institution to take it forward, that will not do it. I would also say if we were to just carry on as though the status quo is okay and climate change is not at our doorstep, that would be a big

Agriculture committee  We are talking about a policy board, a government-wide institution. I think it should be created by an act of Parliament, in the same way Parliament created other institutions such as Rights and Democracy, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and many others.

Agriculture committee  Maybe Amanda wants to intervene here as well, but I would refer you to an excellent report called “Dollars and Sense”, which talks about how the money and investment that goes into local food gets circulated through the economy many times and therefore has great potential to crea

Agriculture committee  It's the agricultural land reserve, yes.

Agriculture committee  I want to come back to the “supporting innovation” on this. I'll give the example of a wonderful organization that is now closed due to lack of funding, called FarmStart. It was in Guelph, and they were training the next generation of farmers and they were doing business training

Agriculture committee  I also met Mr. Poissant during those events, and to have you here now.... I'd like to think that it had something to do with getting food policy into the mandate letter. It makes me feel very good about engaging during election time. Thank you for that reference. We don't have a

Agriculture committee  I think that sometimes a shortcut is made when we talk about innovation. Everybody thinks technology. Of course, technology is important. I sit here with my iPhone, and I'm not denying that. But the innovation that exists in the people I work with amongst the food banks, school f

Agriculture committee  They're doing amazing work, and they have huge potential to grow the economy.

Agriculture committee  Yes. I just love the fact that you came back to the Eat Think Vote campaign. Just a citizen and a non-profit organization.... That campaign happened during the election.

Agriculture committee  I think that was a pretty exciting time for Canada, 2012, when Olivier De Schutter came here. He went across the country and met with many people. He finished with a report with a series of recommendations, which I say, with all due respect, has been repeatedly submitted to the s

Agriculture committee  The most important thing the government could do is encourage public institutions to source locally. Local sourcing is being done by countless hospitals and university campuses. This could be tried in government buildings, and why not by Parliament? We have to encourage local pu

Agriculture committee  Thank you. I thank you very much for having invited us to appear before your committee today. I am representing Food Secure Canada, a national alliance of organizations and individuals who are committed to achieving three goals: zero hunger, healthy and safe food, and a sustaina