Chicken-Keeper Challenges Charter

February 3, 2012

Toronto Chickens Supports Charter Challenge in Upcoming Court Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  The working group of backyard chicken owners in Toronto, Toronto Chickens, fully endorses the upcoming Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge that has been undertaken by Calgarian Paul Hughes.

Mr. Hughes’ court case is set for March 5, 2012. He is challenging his city’s bylaws that disallow the possession of urban chickens in Calgary. As a group that is working to change Toronto’s bylaw so that urban hens will be allowed again in the city, Toronto Chickens will monitor the course of this upcoming trial very closely.

 We call upon Toronto city councilors and city bylaw officers to suspend enforcement of the chicken bylaw until the results of this case are determined. Even though the court case is taking place in Calgary, because it challenges the federal Charter of Human Rights, it will impact all Canadians and override any municipal rulings.  

If you are interested in supporting Toronto Chickens or other backyard chicken legalization struggles, please write to Toronto Chickens at torontochickens@gmail.com


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Concerned About Supply Management In Ontario

January 24, 2012

by Ann Slater
National Farmers Union
This is written in response to the article by Mark Schatzker published in the January 4 edition of The Globe and Mail which takes a critical look at supply management. Unfortunately, along with being a critical critique of supply management in Canada, the arguments put forward by Mr. Schatzker are developed on misleading information.

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Ontario Election 2011: Time for Good Food

June 15, 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

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Menu 2020: Ten Good Food Ideas for Ontario

June 21, 2010

The response to Sustain Ontario’s Metcalf Food Solutions report, Menu 2020: Ten Good Food Ideas for Ontario has been fantastic.

Why Menu 2020?

Last summer I proposed to write a report for the Metcalf Food Solutions series. After one year of being on the job as Sustain Ontario’s director, I wanted to showcase the good food ideas I learned about while speaking with farm and food leaders throughout the province. Read more »

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Local Food Distribution Poll

April 19, 2010

We want your opinion!

What are the best practices for local food distribution in Ontario and beyond? Take our poll: http://twtpoll.com/wpe0r5

Sustain Ontario and Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) have partnered to develop case studies of local food distribution models. Distribution has been identified as a priority issue for both Sustain Ontario and OCTA members. Read more »

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“Food policy for Canada”

March 10, 2010

GRANT ROBERTSON, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY OBSERVER  March 9/10

It is funny how things change sometimes.

I was reminded of this recently when I received a glossy promotional magazine in my mail for one of Ontario’s farm organizations that discussed amongst other things a national food policy like they had invented the idea.

A few years ago I was at a government consultation meeting around the future of agriculture. I was there representing the National Farmers Union and the thousands of farmers across Canada who have been talking and working on promoting the need for a national food policy and agricultural policies that actually focus on the needs and importance of family farmers. During the meeting I brought up the idea of a national food policy.

Continue reading the full article here: Food policy for Canada by Grant Robertson


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