Governments announce support for Northern Manitoba food security

Press Release

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

July 13, 2020 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing up to $240,000 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and $370,000 in provincial funding through Manitoba’s Northern Healthy Food Initiative to support northern food security projects, Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.

Canada and Manitoba will be providing a total of $200,000 through the CAP to support innovative projects that directly increase northern food supply. The CAP will also provide $40,000 to support the development and implementation of a training program to pair communities with provincial agriculture experts.

The Manitoba government is investing $370,000 to support local food production and food security in northern communities. This includes $150,000 to support the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture and Community Collaborative (NMFCCC) to enhance and scale up community-based local food production projects. Grant funding to the Northern Healthy Food Initiative’s key strategic partners will be increased by $220,000 this year to reinforce existing food security programming in northern Manitoba.

These collective investments recognize and celebrate the efforts of northern communities and their partners who work tirelessly to strengthen northern Manitoba’s food system.

Quotes

“Everyone in Canada should have access to safe, nutritious food, no matter where they live. By learning how to prepare foods available locally, communities in northern Manitoba will have the tools to improve their food security and nutrition. Ensuring our food security, especially in our northern communities, is a cause that is close to my heart and a major preoccupation of our Government – which is why we launched the Food Policy for Canada that is supporting local food initiatives in communities across the country.”

– Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial stress for a number of Manitobans, making access to healthy food more difficult. Prior to the pandemic many of Manitoba’s northern communities were already facing distribution and access problems. This project will increase food security and resiliency within Manitoba’s northern region.”

– Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister

“Needed now more than ever, strengthening food security in northern Manitoba helps build healthier communities. From greenhouses, gardens, and poultry to beekeeping and traditional Indigenous food system projects, today’s funding will not only put food on the table today, but will build leadership, self-confidence, and strengthen family and community connections for years to come.”

– Eileen Clarke, Manitoba Indigenous and Northern Relations Minister

Quick facts

• The five-year, $3-billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership includes $2 billion for cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories and $1 billion for federal programs and services.
• The Government of Manitoba’s Northern Healthy Food Initiative’s partners include the Bayline Regional Roundtable, Four Arrows Regional Health Authority, Frontier School Division, Food Matters Manitoba and the Northern Association of Community Councils.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Local Food Infrastructure Fund emergency stream has provided $100M through food banks and hunger relief organizations to address food security nationwide.
• AAFC’s Food Surplus Rescue Fund will make available $50M to help manage and redirect existing food surpluses to organizations addressing food insecurity in vulnerable communities, including remote and northern communities, to ensure that these surplus products are not wasted.

Associated links

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership
• Manitoba Agriculture
• Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
• Northern Manitoba Food, Culture and Community Collaborative
• Local Food Infrastructure Fund
• Food Surplus Rescue Fund

Contacts

Jean-Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
ean-sebastien.comeau@canada.ca
343-549-2326

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca

John Neufeld
Public Affairs Specialist
Government of Manitoba
204-945-3812

Caitlin MacGregor
Press Secretary to Minister Blaine Pedersen and Minister Eileen Clarke
Caitlin.MacGregor@leg.gov.mb.ca
204-945-1494

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