All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

Vikki Poirier

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 4

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes
This 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
  1. Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
  2. Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
  3. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
  4. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
  5. 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
  • Public access to food is primarily a provincial/federal and charitable-sector responsibility
  • 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
  • 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

I would support looking at suitable City-owned land for more community gardens. Ward 4 has a community garden at Doon Pioneer Park, but I have heard from a number of neighbours, especially around Robert Ferrie Drive, who would like a community garden closer to where they live. I would start by looking at land the City already owns and asking residents where there is interest and need before spending money on new land. Community gardens can help people grow fresh food, bring neighbours together, and make good use of public space while being responsible with taxpayer dollars.