Kitchener — Mayor

1. Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
2. Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
3. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
4. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
5. Leave local food livelihoods to the private market

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

Making a parcel of public land available for community growing or new farmers

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. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
4. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
5. Leave local food livelihoods to the private market

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

Setting up agriculture innovation spaces. These would be regional or city owned land that is leased to small scale farmers in partnership with agricultural and academic networks.

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

I deliver food every week to food not bombs and the food system roundtable network.

1. Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
2. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
3. Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
4. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system

1. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
2. Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
3. Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
4. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
5. Leave local food livelihoods to the private market

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

I would support establishing a Regional Local Food Hub partnership that brings together farmers, food processors, non-profits, educational institutions and local businesses. The Region could help identify suitable public or partner facilities for shared processing, storage, distribution and low-barrier market space, while working with other levels of government to secure funding. This would reduce costs for small producers, create local jobs and strengthen our food supply chain while protecting productive farmland from unnecessary development pressure.

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

A strong local food system is about more than food security, it is also about protecting productive farmland, supporting farmers and creating local economic opportunities. The Region should work with municipalities, farmers, businesses, non-profits and other levels of government to reduce barriers to local production, processing and distribution. Growth should be planned carefully to avoid unnecessary loss and fragmentation of agricultural land, while recognizing that a healthy agricultural sector can contribute to jobs, investment and the long-term resilience of Waterloo Region.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Protect the agricultural land base while supporting value-added agriculture, local food processing, and farm-based businesses that create jobs and strengthen the Region’s local economy. Growth and development should be planned in a way that minimizes unnecessary loss or fragmentation of productive farmland.

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.