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Saanich policy makes local food a priority
November 1, 2011 | 
Author 
Photo by Ed Johnson
By Ingrid Strauss, Citizen Journalist
Saanich Voice Online readers may recall a Times Colonist story back in July of this year, announcing the first municipality in the region to adopt a local food procurement policy for municipal food services and events. The story featured a large picture of a beautiful field in production. The caption under the picture read, “Kevin Michell working on a Central Saanich property. Produce from farms like this could fit the bill for a new policy proposed by the municipality of Saanich.” Yes — the farm showcasing the benefit to local farmers of the Municipality of Saanich’s new local food procurement policy was in Central Saanich, a municipality without a local food procurement policy.
The Saanich policy makes locally-produced food a priority for catering at internal meetings, at municipal food services, including the cafe at the district’s recreation centre, and at district events. It also applies to vendors at public festivals.
Councillor Dean Murdock, chairman of the Healthy Saanich Advisory Committee, was instrumental in Saanich’s adoption of a local food procurement policy. Councillor Murdock talked about the intention behind the policy, “Saanich municipality doesn’t buy a huge amount of food itself but the hope is its Local Food Procurement Policy will encourage other local municipalities and regional districts to adopt similar policies and together we can make a difference. By building in demand, local governments can provide an avenue to support local markets and keep farmers in production. This policy is the first of many steps that can bring us closer to food security.”
The buy-local consciousness has catapulted up from individuals to corporations, institutions, and now, local governments. The movement has broad appeal because of the wealth of benefits it creates; environmental, social, and economic , including: Expanded local marketplace and local economy by supporting local food producers and keeping dollars within the region; Consumers get to know the person growing their food and can ask about farm practices; Fresher and healthier food choices because local food is harvested when it is ripe rather than when it needs to be shipped; Profitable, productive farms that protect agricultural land from development and ensure that farmland is available as a global food crisis emerges; and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, estimated to be 14% of the energy used in food production, because local food does not travel as far as imported foods.
Of the municipalities within the Capital Regional District, Central Saanich and North Saanich have the best opportunity to procure food grown within their own boundaries. Isn’t it time for these municipalities to take care of their own farmers and environment and join a world-wide movement that supports a strong and vibrant local agricultural sector?
Central Saanich municipal election candidate Zeb King thinks it’s time to move forward on this policy noting, “More than 60 percent of Central Saanich is in the ALR. The municipality needs to move from creating studies on agriculture to actually supporting farmers. A policy to serve fresh, healthy local food should also be adopted by Saanich Peninsula Hospital and School District 63. All together, our buying power will make a difference.” King adds “If elected, I intend to work with Council to initiate bold policies that protect agriculture and put agriculture front and centre of the CRD agenda. If Central and North Saanich municipalities don’t protect their local growers and suppliers, who will?”
Posted in Community News
3 Responses to “Saanich policy makes local food a priority”
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…, farming is the business of this community, so let’s take this further and seek businesses for Keating that [support] our farming community. Baking, packing, making flour, using wool…what else, let’s all start thinking about how to make the pieces of the Central Saanich puzzle fit together. We call ourselves the “Land of Plenty” so let’s make it work.
Perhaps since the adjoining municipalities, Saanich and Central Saanich have municipal police forces (not RCMP); Saanich has a professional fire service and all the necessary training facilities; Saanich has been more successful than Central Saanich defining and maintaining their urban containment boundaries for the past 40 years, it might be time for Central Saanich to look at amalgamating with Saanich – Social, Economic and Environmental studies need to be done.
I have been talking to candidates from the Victoria Municipality over the last few weeks. One of the topics has been food security programs available, for the food insecure. I have noticed that with many non profit, and social services being centralized in the Victoria Municipality, I wondered if there are any food banks for Saanich Residents?
I noticed in the above article, that Saanich Boasts a healthy farming community, it seems logical that some agreement be made between the two Municipalities to reduce food insecurity, by engaging the Farming Community and local initiatives/incentives for residents who allow gardening on their property. Victoria, according to the Census, has a population of about 21% single parents, and about 14% of people in the GVRD live in poverty. The very basic things we are expected to provide to our children are a human right, not a privilege. I just found out today, there is no Coats for Kids this year, and I wonder how many of the 21% of single parents will afford one for their child, probably from the Municipality of Victoria (ie. St. Vincent de Paul, etc)…..