Dear colleagues, With the recent release of Statistics Canada data showing record food insecurity<https://proof.utoronto.ca/2023/new-data-on-household-food-insecurity-in-2022/>, it is important to look at what the federal government has (and hasn't) been doing to address this serious public health problem. Research has shown that food insecurity puts tremendous burden on health & healthcare<https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/what-are-the-implications-of-food-insecurity-for-health-and-health-care/>, but also that it can be reduced by policies<https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/what-can-be-done-to-reduce-food-insecurity-in-canada/> that provide greater income adequacy and stability for low-income households (i.e. wage, labour, and income support reform). However, the only federal program naming food insecurity reduction as part of its goal has been the Local Food Infrastructure Food, a program that funds infrastructure primarily for food charities and central part of Canada's Food Policy. "The Food Policy’s ambitious vision that “all people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious and culturally diverse food<https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/department/initiatives/food-policy/food-policy-canada>” seemed commendable when first announced. But the vision being implemented through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund now is a two-tiered food system — affluent Canadians purchase premium products at supermarkets, farmers’ markets and designer food outlets, while millions of others line up to receive rations from volunteers working feverishly to distribute the food rejected from that retail system." Please check out at our latest commentary in The Conversation<https://theconversation.com/canadas-national-food-policy-is-at-risk-of-enshrining-a-two-tiered-food-system-205741>, where we look at the visions and actions of Canada's Food Policy and poverty reduction strategy, and where we need to go to move the needle on food insecurity. Tim *Apologies for the cross-posting* -- Tim Li, MSCom PROOF Research Program Coordinator Department of Nutritional Sciences Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 https://proof.utoronto.ca/ @proofcanada<https://twitter.com/proofcanada> ________________________________ From: PROOF (Food Insecurity Policy Research) <[log in to unmask]> Sent: June 5, 2023 4:06 PM To: PROOF Food Insecurity Policy Research <[log in to unmask]> Subject: 🆕 Canada’s Food Policy is at risk of enshrining a two-tiered food system Local Food Infrastructure Fund is a step backward for addressing food insecurity. Here's why. View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/6c3cbb6d4089/canadas-food-policy-is-at-risk-of-enshrining-a-two-tiered-food-system?e=95568a7c75> [Logo: PROOF, Food Insecurity Policy Research] <https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=6929637885&e=95568a7c75> Canada’s national food policy is at risk of enshrining a two-tiered food system [https://mcusercontent.com/f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a/images/91df67b6-9d48-a6e3-a479-73508515c8cd.png] <https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=2f7ef67a74&e=95568a7c75> "Just two days after the release of the latest statistics on household food insecurity in Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the start of a new phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund. Launched in 2019 as part of Canada’s Food Policy, this program funds infrastructure and equipment for local food charity programs and is the only federal program naming food insecurity reduction as part of its goal. However, this approach to addressing food insecurity is deeply misguided. At a time when food insecurity affects almost one in five Canadians, the latest funding presumes that food-insecure households are accessing food charity and that doing so resolves their food insecurity. Both assumptions are simply untrue. The problem is far too big and despite their best efforts, food charity can only ever provide limited, emergency support." Continue reading in The Conversation<https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=ce9a01f5de&e=95568a7c75> ICYMI: Food prescriptions – a short-sighted response to food insecurity [https://mcusercontent.com/f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a/images/a673a4b0-3919-5795-34d2-7ba22287cb97.png] <https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=f1791bdaa6&e=95568a7c75> We also recently shared a commentary in Healthy Debate on the relationship between food prescriptions and food insecurity. With the growing interest in food prescriptions in Canada, we examined some of the key questions and concerns to consider when discussing these programs, especially in the context of public policy. Read in Healthy Debate<https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=92f0494bc3&e=95568a7c75> [proof.utoronto.ca]<https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=195896d6de&e=95568a7c75> proof.utoronto.ca<https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=b84cb5340b&e=95568a7c75> [[log in to unmask]]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [@proofcanada]<https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=9da176cfb5&e=95568a7c75> @proofcanada<https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=6c41868a4b&e=95568a7c75> [Logo: PROOF, Food Insecurity Policy Research] <https://utoronto.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f0bc4ce703a1f3b145f5a0e0a&id=81fdcc8e2b&e=95568a7c75> Copyright © 2023 PROOF, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. 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