Question Period Note: A FOOD POLICY FOR CANADA

Q1 - N/A

R.1 - N/A

The Food Policy for Canada seeks to create healthier and more sustainable food systems in Canada, building on the Government’s ambitious agenda to support the growth of Canada’s farmers and food businesses. The Food Policy brings a coordinated approach to dealing with food issues in Canada by strengthening linkages across federal initiatives that affect food. During Food Policy consultations in 2017, food security, and food loss and waste were identified as priorities that required greater government attention.
Budget 2024 included key investments to strengthen Canada’s food systems and make progress toward the Food Policy for Canada’s vision to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. These investments included $62.9 million over three years to strengthen local food security (Local Food Infrastructure Fund), $42.8 million to strengthen access to culturally important foods (Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund, Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act).
Local Food Infrastructure Fund
Budget 2024 announced $62.9 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to renew and expand the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) to support community organizations across Canada to invest in local food infrastructure, with priority to be given to Indigenous and Black communities, along with other equity-deserving groups. Part of the expansion will support community organizations to improve infrastructure for school food programs as a complement to the National School Food Program.
Under the first Food Policy, the Government of Canada invested $50 million over five years with an additional $20 million in top-ups in the LFIF through Budget 2021 and Budget 2023, with funding sunsetting on March 31, 2024. Since 2019, over 1,110 projects were funded through LFIF over five intake periods, representing $65 million in AAFC funding. Projects ranged in funding size from $5,000 to $500,000 and spanned across all provinces and territories.

Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund
Budget 2024 provided $14.9 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to renew and expand the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to all regions of Inuit Nunangat to support local and Indigenous food production systems, including innovative northern food businesses, which contribute to food security in the North.
Under the first Food Policy, the Government of Canada invested $15 million over five years in the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund led by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program
Budget 2024 provided $25.1 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, on a cash basis, to expand the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The funding will assist Indigenous communities to safely access shellfish harvest for food, as well as social and ceremonial purposes.
This funding will address ongoing resource pressures to deliver monitoring services in certain areas, especially Indigenous communities in remote locations. This funding could mitigate an infringement on Indigenous rights to harvest, as well as support federal government commitments towards Reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

• The Government of Canada is working to ensure all people in Canada have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food.
• Budget 2024 announced key investments to strengthen food security in communities throughout Canada, such as $62.9 million in renewed investments for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund and $1B for a National School Food Program.
• Through the Food Policy for Canada, the Government will continue to ensure diverse perspectives are at the table and coordinated actions are taken to address critical challenges facing Canada’s systems.