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New Democrats want to promote local food

June 17, 2013  By Press release


June 17, 2013, Ottawa, Ont — In an effort to support Canada’s family farms, New Democrats have introduced a bill in the House of Commons to encourage Canadians to buy local food.

“Promoting local agriculture is important for two reasons,” said the NDP’s Deputy Environment Critic, Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois–Salaberry). “First, we are protecting the environment by reducing the transport of foods. And second, we are investing in our regional economies. Simply put: eating locally helps grow our economy.”

The proposed bill aims to create a national strategy for local foods in consultation with provincial Agricultural Ministers. Moreover, federal institutions will be governed by a policy that prioritizes the purchase of locally grown foods.

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Since the Conservatives took power, Canada has lost more than 8,000 small farms, according to the NDP.

“We absolutely have to do more to support Canadian grown foods – for our own health and for that of our economy,” explained Quach. “Local agriculture: it’s buying locally and eating fresh.”


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