Prince George City Council has been trying to build a Food Policy Council to help with poverty reduction in the city, and they received a report gauging residents on how they’d like to see it get built.
Members of the Everyone at the Table (EAT) Collective and the Local Food Prince George Society (LFPGS) were asked five questions about establishing a Food Policy Council, what the motive should be, and if the local government should be involved.
Chris Bone, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships said the responses varied.
“For those who were interested in establishing a Food Policy Council, it was noted that more community consultation, greater regional representation, and the completion of a food charter would be important considerations.”
Some of the notes made in the questionnaire included:
- Public policy should be created concerning how food is produced, processed, distributed, and purchased.
- The local government should be involved by supplying water, getting the communications department involved, and providing resource staff doing public involvement processes and civic events and funding.
- A grassroots approach allows people to have their own self-reliance and sustainability.
Bone added that when they reached back out to participants to make sure their views were understood before presenting the report, they received a positive response.
“(The response) was really very hopeful that this report to council would include all of the information that was shared at the Food Policy Council webinar, and the feedback that was gathered, because their volunteer core was feeling pretty maxed out.”
It was noted in the City’s council meeting that no action was currently being taken, and the City would wait until a report came back, most likely after more community consultation was completed.
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