Food Security

Seasonal Availability: Ensuring an adequate food supply through domestic production, imports, and reserves, which varies significantly across Canada due to regional differences in climate and infrastructure.

Access: Enhancing people’s ability to grow or purchase food, influenced by factors such as income levels, food prices, weather conditions, infrastructure, training and access to affordable land or production spaces.

Education: Promoting knowledge of how to use food effectively, including adopting wholesome, nutritious, and culturally appropriate diets, and ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare to support overall well-being.

Wasted Food: Shifting the focus from managing food waste to preventing wasted food through mindful practices planning, preparation, storage, preservation, and valuing the seasonality of our northern bounty and local resources.

Sharing Abundance: Sharing surplus food when possible and, in times of scarcity, finding ways to stretch food dollars locally. Building connections within the community can help support those in need while fostering collaboration and mutual aid. We all have a role in creating a more food secure Canada.

Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Food security in Canada faces significant challenges driven by interconnected factors. Climate change has led to more extreme weather events, including storms, floods, and fires, which disrupt crop yields and the food supply, making it harder to ensure consistent access to nutritious food.

Economic Inequality and Rising Costs

Economic inequality further exacerbates the issue, with rapid inflation and the rising cost of living over the past five years forcing Canadians to stretch their food budgets, leaving many unable to afford or access the food they need. High housing costs also limit disposable income for food, creating additional barriers to food security.

Access to Land and Food Production

Access to land for growing food is another critical issue. Urban development, rising land prices, and limited availability of affordable farmland make it increasingly difficult for individuals, families, and communities to grow their own food or establish community gardens, further constraining food sovereignty and local resilience.

Global Disruptions and Their Impact

As a major importer of certain foods, Canada is vulnerable to global disruptions, which can result in higher prices and reduced availability of imported goods. Global conflicts and displacement, driven by war and instability, have ripple effects on food security. These crises often lead to increased migration and resettlement, with vulnerable populations arriving in Canada who require support to access nutritious food and rebuild their lives.

The Role of Food Sovereignty

Food sovereignty offers a pathway to resilience by emphasizing

local, sustainable practices and community control over food systems. However, reliance on

international trade continues to pose risks, as global economic fluctuations can significantly

impact local food prices.