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

Wazhma Frogh

City/Township Council · Kitchener

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

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
No response
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 the development of community buying clubs or municipal grocery stores
  • Support local food procurement for school food programs, including processing/preparation infrastructure, food literacy, and youth learning opportunities
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

I would support a local food procurement policy that gives greater consideration to food produced by farmers and suppliers in Waterloo Region for eligible municipal programs and facilities. This would strengthen our local economy, support farmers, and improve the resilience of our local food system.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on food systems?candidate's own words

A strong local food system connects farmland protection, food security, economic development and affordability. I would support stronger partnerships among local farmers, food businesses, community organizations and municipalities to increase access to locally produced food while reducing barriers for residents experiencing food insecurity.