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Last week, Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture introduced a Local Food Act, establishing "a target to aspire to in respect of local food." Quebec should take note.
According to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, if Ontario households were to take just $10 of their normal food spending, and use it to buy Ontario-grown rather than imported products, it could spark $2.4 billion in economic activity and create 10,000 new jobs.
Although details are to be determined, the act is meant to encourage:
- colleges, hospitals, universities and municipalities to set targets for buying local food
- large supermarket chains to carry more local food
- better labeling of Ontario-grown products
Given that Quebec is losing farms at a rate of three to five a week...
And that there has been a resurgence in interest in buying local...
We wonder when Quebecers will get a local food act of our own.
Update: the resignation of Dalton McGuinty has unfortunately put this bill in jeopardy.
