Matt Rodrigues
Regional Council · Region of Waterloo
Back to candidatesFood Systems & Security
In the context of growing pressure for economic development and the connected loss of farmland, what role do municipalities and the Region hold in promoting local food livelihoods, production, and processing?ranked from highest to lowest importance
- Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
- Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
- Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
- Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
- Leave local food livelihoods to the private market
How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part
A. Access to food
- Partner with local charities, non-profits, and other organizations to strengthen access to food and redistribution of surplus food and produce for low-income residents
- Support programs to prepare food for those who are unhoused or unable to cook
B. Access to land for growing food
- Make public lands (Regional and municipal) available for sustenance food provisioning, including in urban and peri-urban spaces as cities expand
- Enable access to land and resources for local people who want to grow their own food (e.g. the community-garden model)
Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words
Establishing a policy for the use of community-gardens on community housing sites operated by the Region of Waterloo.