People's Food Policy Project Presents:

The Cross-Country Kitchen Table Talks
by PFPP

Starting this week, from October 12-17, the People's Food Policy Project (PFPP) launches the Cross-country Kitchen Table Talks. These gatherings of neighbours, friends and family - in short, ordinary Canadians as well as the media- will dig in, and discuss what could be the most important public policy development since Medicare.

The launch coincides with Thanksgiving and World Food Day (October 16) and over 30 Talks are already scheduled for that week alone, across the country, and can be found on our Calendar.

 

Due to the fact that the government has not stepped up to develop a food policy, citizens across the country have decided to take matters in to their own hands. They want to use these Talks to help shape the future of food in Canada.

 

"Canada needs a food policy. The development of this policy must include input from its eaters, its citizens," says PFPP National Coordinator Amanda Sheedy.

With the recent endorsement by David Suzuki, the PFPP has captured the voices of citizens from coast to coast to coast in its draft
proposals. It will create the only people-focused food policy that ensures Canada's food system is controlled by Canadians, supports
Canadian farmers and delivers healthy, environmentally sustainable and accessible food to its citizens.

The PFPP would like to hear what citizens think about food. The Project is inviting the media and the public to host or participate in
a Kitchen Table Talk to consider their recommendations and discuss how the public would like to see Canada's food system improved.
'As a longtime farmer, I am experiencing increasing demand from urban folks who want to buy directly from me. They are worried about food security, safety and the ethics of transporting food around the globe,' says Colleen Ross of Iroquois, Ontario. 'Canadians need to let decision makers know that they want food grown using environmentally sound practices in a system that provides food security for all.'

The PFPP is a broad network of eaters, farmers, community and health workers, academics, cooks, small business owners and others engaged in the food system. During a year of extensive consultation, 70 volunteers heard from more than 1,000 Canadians to develop proposals on ways Canadians can reclaim and rebuild their food system.

The Talks are seeking solutions to some of the following problems in Canada's food system:

a.Canada is the only G8 country with no school lunch program.

b.Canada's food exports have increased 400% since the late 80s, but almost 800,000 Canadians needed assistance from food banks in March 2009 alone, an 18% increase from the previous year.

c.Average farm income in Canada is negative $20,000 per year.

d.Obesity is on the rise, yet people don't have enough food to eat.



For the Media, contact knowledgeable members of the PFPP for revealing and informed interviews or to help you develop talks of your own.

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Contact: National Coordinator - Amanda Sheedy

info@peoplesfoodpolicy.ca /514-342-5291

Le projet Pour une politique alimentaire populaire



Visitez http://politiquealimentairepopulaire.ca