Has the upcoming election got you thinking about food systems issues?
At the end of January, Food First NL sent out a questionnaire to candidates running in the 2021 provincial election. The questions we asked were:
Newfoundland and Labrador has one of Canada’s highest rates of household food insecurity. What solutions do you think would be most effective?
What opportunities do you see for the province as a whole to become more food secure?
When it comes to food security and insecurity, what are the biggest challenges your district faces?
What opportunities do you see within the district to strengthen food security?
Click here to read the responses - Updating Live as more come in
We’ve also developed a series of talking points and associated questions for voters to ask their candidate about food systems issues in their district, as well as the province as a whole.
Question 1: NL has one of the highest rates of food insecurity - at least 14.7% of households struggle to put food on the table. What would you like to see the government do to address food insecurity in our province?
Question 2: In Newfoundland and Labrador, the average age of farmers is 55. How can we increase local food production in our province and get young people involved in agriculture?
Question 3: Food insecurity doesn’t affect everyone equally. Race, Indigeneity, gender, physical and mental health, age, and where you live all affect how likely you are to experience food insecurity. What are the biggest challenges your district faces in terms of food insecurity?
Question 4: Research shows that food insecurity is an income problem. What do you see as potential solutions for security issues in your district?
Party Platform Analysis
In addition to the candidate survey, we also looked through the party platforms in search of food-focused policies, as well as policies that would likely have significant impacts on food security and insecurity - this would include, for example, policies that boost support for lower-income households, or policies to address gender inequality, since women-led single parent households are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. Here’s what we found.
Progressive Conservative Party
In the PC Platform, we found the following policies:
Increase the availability and affordability of food in Labrador
A gender-based response to COVID-19.
Develop a new Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Focus on the social determinants of health.
A “Buy Local” initiative, encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to buy local goods and services, including food.
Remove barriers to food production in the province.
Support resource sharing among farmers.
Promote the purchase of Newfoundland and Labrador foods.
Pay equity legislation for women.
Commitment to buying goods, services, and construction work from NL suppliers.
$25 a day child care, with an ask to the federal government for universal child care.
Liberal Party
Renewing a Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Improving food security
Support growth of the agriculture industry.
A goal of increasing food security to 20% by 2022.
Grow, buy, and export healthy food.
Increasing support for community gardens
Continue $25 a day child care, with a plan to expand affordability.
Achieving gender equity with Gender Based Plus analysis for all policy.
New Democratic Party
Food security in Northern communities.
Increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Universal and public nation-wide child care program.
Collaboration with the PUB to create a realistic rate mitigation plan.
Invest in affordable housing for seniors.
Explore a Livable Basic Income.
Support food production systems.
Stop the CERB clawbacks.
Paid sick days, as part of preparation for the next crisis.
Ensure continuity of worker’s rights.
Pay equity legislation.
Ending gender-based violence.
