Thursday October 17, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC
BC ELECTION CAMPAIGN DAY 27 of 28
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Your 28-day voter’s guide for BC Election 2024
Food security and climate change are dual challenges, says the BC Green Party, in outlining their food security platform on October 16.
Access to healthy food that is grown locally requires a strategy, including scaling up food security programs, strengthening local food networks, and establishing agricultural water reserves to protect the water essential for sustainable farming.
The BC Greens platform on food security as announced by BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau along with Cowichan Valley candidate Cammy Lockwood in Victoria would aim to:.
- Expand food security programs, such as regional community food hubs, and increase funding for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program to ensure more healthy, local food reaches those in need.
- Create agricultural water reserves to guarantee a secure water supply for agriculture, safeguarding food production during times of drought or water scarcity.
- Increase funding for local food processing, storage, and distribution infrastructure. Develop policies to support public institutions, such as schools and hospitals, in sourcing a minimum percentage of their food locally.
- Support Indigenous Food Sovereignty by investing in community-led initiatives that enhance access to traditional foods for Indigenous communities.
- Create a universal school food program to ensure every child in British Columbia has access to nutritious food in schools.
“Farmers are on the front lines of climate change, and they need our support to build resilient food systems,” say the BC Greens.
The importance of a secure water supply for food producers across the province is a key part of achieving that.
BC election context:
The BC Greens are not expected (and themselves do not expect) to form government in the October 19, 2024 election. They are, however, expected to have legislative influence with the BC NDP who BC NDP Leader David Eby has already indicated with his nod to Furstenau’s overall approach to policy during the October 8 televised leaders debate.
In that context, the BC Greens would need to find ways to see this food policy platform integrated into a BC NDP government delivery model.
The prediction at this point just ahead of the election is that the BC NDP will return with a slim majority (if not large minority) government. They will need support of the BC Greens against the BC Conservatives who are expected to form the official opposition in the 43rd parliament.
Quotes from the BC Greens:
“Food insecurity is a significant and growing issue across our province. In 2023, nearly 22 percent of British Columbians lived in food-insecure households, up from 17 percent in 2022. The Province needs to step in now to ensure food insecurity does not continue to rise as people navigate the high cost of living.” – BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau
“Farming at the best of times is difficult work, but trying to produce food in the face of climate catastrophe is an immense task that cannot be done alone. Farmers and food producers need our support in so many ways. As a farmer myself, I am proud to stand with Sonia Furstenau and announce food security policies that centres farmers, Indigenous food sovereignty and water security.” – Cammy Lockwood, BC Green candidate for Cowichan Valley
“As a farmer & food security activist of over 30 years, I am so impressed with the BC Green platform on food security. The platform includes supports needed for farmers and provides tangible ways of lowering food costs for everyday people. The universal school food program will revolutionize local food production by giving farmers a stable demand to increase production. Ten out of ten for the BC Greens!” – Arzeena Hamir, BC Green Party candidate for Courtenay-Comox
===== RELATED:
- BC Election 2024: advance voting on now for six days (October 10, 2024)
- Six days of advance voting in BC Election 2024 (October 3, 2024)
- NEWS SECTIONS: POLITICS | VANCOUVER ISLAND | FOOD SECURITY | BC ELECTION 2024