Minister MacAulay opens first regional session on A Food Policy for Canada in Charlottetown, PEI

CHARLOTTETOWN, Aug. 9, 2017 /CNW/ - A Food Policy for Canada will set a long-term vision for the country's health, environmental, social, and economic goals related to food, while also identifying actions that can be taken in the short-term to improve Canada's food system.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay opened the first regional engagement session today in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI), as part of the ongoing consultations regarding the development A Food Policy for Canada. The Minister was joined by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Charlottetown, Sean Casey, and one of Canada's best-known chefs and PEI food ambassador, Michael Smith.

The session, which includes stakeholders, Indigenous representatives, experts, and key policy makers, is the first in a series being held across the country over the next two months.

Public consultations on A Food Policy for Canada were launched on May 29, 2017, via an online survey. Due to a strong response from across the country, the comment period for the online survey was recently extended to August 31, 2017. A Food Policy Summit also took place in June that brought together over 250 participants with diverse expertise and experience to discuss a broad range of food-related issues, related to:

• increasing access to affordable food;
• improving health and food safety;
• conserving our soil, water, and air; and
• growing more high-quality food.

Quotes

"Today's session marks the continuation of the important, in-depth conversation we are having about A Food Policy for Canada. The decisions we make as a government, and as individuals, about food have a major impact on not only our health and well-being, but on our environment, our communities, and our economy. Conversations like the one we are having today are vital to ensuring the food choices we make are the right ones, while ensuring we meet the growing world demand for high quality foods produced by our farmers and ranchers."
-  Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has already heard from 30,000 Canadians through the online survey.
• A food policy is a way to address issues related to the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. A Food Policy for Canada will cover all food sources, including primary agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and processing.

Associated Links

• A Food Policy for Canada

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

For further information: Guy Gallant, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, 613-773-1059; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972

Related Links

www.agr.gc.ca