Scott Piatkowski
City/Township Council · Waterloo Ward 5
Back to candidatesThis candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.
Food 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
- Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
- Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
- Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
- Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
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 local food procurement for school food programs, including processing/preparation infrastructure, food literacy, and youth learning opportunities
- 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)
- Encourage and support private landowners to make lots available for food provisioning
Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words
Ensuring that all public events run by the City of Waterloo make provisions for how to get leftover food to those who are hungry.
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on food systems?candidate's own words
While the Wilmot land acquisition is a Region of Waterloo issue (spurred and funded by the province), I will advocate that Waterloo's representatives on Regional Council (including the Mayor of Waterloo) withdraw their support for proceeding with the destruction of farmland in favour of an unspecified major industrial use.