The
Arrell Institute, formed earlier this year to study food policies in a number
of nations and to advise the Canadian government, has recently sent its report
to federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.
But I haven't been able to find out what's in the report. Never mind, because it's just a lot of hot air. Yak, yak, yak forever about the need for a national food policy.
The
institute, headed by geographer Evan Fraser of the University of Guelph, found
many challenges in a complex situation for Canada.
“Some
of these challenges include four million Canadians living in food insecurity,
high levels of diet-related disease, and climate change mitigation and
adaptation; while there are significant opportunities to build public trust and
advance Canada's international trade objectives,” Maple Leaf Foods Inc. says in
a news release today drawing attention to its participation in the institute.
The ad
hoc working group includes the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Food Secure
Canada, Maple Leaf Foods and the McConnell Foundation as founding members.
Maple
Leaf says its proposal has garnered support from a broad cross-section of
businesses, non-profits and sectoral organizations from across Canada in a
letter sent to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay last
week.
"Working
with the academic and research community was a necessary part of the
process," says Fraser.
"And
through a rigorous research process, we were able to distill best practices
from food policy councils from around the world to inform our recommendations
to the Canadian government."
