Ontario Election 2011: Time for Good Food

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Author: Ravenna

Posted: June 15, 2011

Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario / Ontario Food Policy / Vote ON Food and Farming 2011

with Wayne Roberts

Three huge issues will be front and centre in Ontario’s 2011 election – health, health and health.  All three issues – medical health, economic health and environmental health – have one thing in common. Good food is indispensable to success with all of them.

With growing awareness of the importance, value, and potential of food across Ontario this could be the year that food finds its rightful place at the policy table. In Ontario today there is no food ministry, minister, office, department, legislation, plan or strategy.  As a result we’re missing out on great opportunities to create jobs– the food sector has already become Ontario’s top employer;  improve health promotion and generate huge medical savings; create lively and welcoming communities; engage students and make curricula relevant; and improve our air, soil, water and wildlife habitat. Food can make all of these things happen – but it won’t until there’s coordination across ministries, jurisdictions, communities and businesses.

Photo by Laura Berman - www.greenfusephotos.com

Sustain Ontario’s job is to bring together a wide range of food-related community and stakeholder groups across the province. Our non-partisan goal is to help the government get its act together with food. We’d like to see all parties integrate a focus on food into their platforms, taking advantage of the opportunities that come from managing the food file in an integrated way.

Sustain Ontario and many of our members are taking action this year to make sure that food is on the agenda. We’ll be playing our part by creating a toolkit, connecting people to events, activities, ideas, and resources that they can use to make sure candidates understand why food is so important and what they can do to use food to address the issues facing our province. Part of that will be keeping you informed through this blog about healthy food and farming policy asks, campaigns, issues, and party platforms.

Good Food Policies and Programs for Ontario are our policy asks. The Good Food Policies and Programs would bring about  immediate changes that will prevent our food system from further eroding, give people who are hungry today access to the food that they need, and will make sure that we’re not missing the obvious and immediate opportunities available through food.

But that’s not all we’re asking for. We’re also asking that the provincial government create processes and structures that will allow us to realize all of the possibilities that food presents us. We are asking that all ministries that deal with food be brought together at one table.  We are asking for support of community and business based food policy councils and alliances. We would like to see the province have a strategy and an action plan for food. Across this province we need to start working together to find new opportunities and new solutions.

Sustain Ontario isn’t the only group that thinks it’s time for good food this election year. Groups across the province are asking politicians and candidates to change the future of food. Here are a few of the many:

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario is advocating for policies to prevent childhood obesity. Check out their advocacy document, starting on page 12 to learn more about their food focused policies.

The Holland Marsh Growers Association is advocating for policies and budget changes that will enable farmers to keep farming and make a good living (and that are good for eaters as well).

FoodShare Toronto, which works for good, healthy food for all is advocating for student nutrition, support to local farmers, and good food boxes.

Watch this blog to learn more about Sustain Ontario’s policy asks, other food focused campaigns, and what the parties are saying about food this election year. Share your ideas, opinions, resources and more. We’d love to hear from you!