Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Related Resources
Opinion Poll Finds Public Support For BC Farmers
http://www.gov.bc.ca/al/attachments/iaf_survey_final_report_dec_17.pdf
Highlights of the poll include:
*91 per cent of British Columbians agree that it is important for BC to produce enough food so that the province doesn't have to depend on importing food from other places.
* More than nine in 10 British Columbians believe agriculture is an important contributor to the provincial economy.
* 96 per cent of British Columbians trust farmers to act in the best interests of consumers.
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BC Agriculture Plan
Follow this link to the BC government's vision for agriculture in BC
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BC Food Action Network's excellent BC Election Food Action Toolkit
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This brochure, produced by Farmers' Markets Canada, contains the findings of a new national study that reports on the impacts of farmers' markets in Canada in 2008. http://farmersmarketscanada.ca/Upload/file/FMC%20FINAL%20Brochure%202009-ENG.pdf
http://www.gov.bc.ca/al/
Highlights of the poll include:
*91 per cent of British Columbians agree that it is important for BC to produce enough food so that the province doesn't have to depend on importing food from other places.
* More than nine in 10 British Columbians believe agriculture is an important contributor to the provincial economy.
* 96 per cent of British Columbians trust farmers to act in the best interests of consumers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC Agriculture Plan
Follow this link to the BC government's vision for agriculture in BC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC Food Action Network's excellent BC Election Food Action Toolkit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This brochure, produced by Farmers' Markets Canada, contains the findings of a new national study that reports on the impacts of farmers' markets in Canada in 2008. http://farmersmarketscanada.ca/Upload/file/FMC%20FINAL%20Brochure%202009-ENG.pdf
Have your say!
It is important for our politicians to see what reforms BC's citizens want for the province's agriculture industry. Please write down the top three policy changes you would like to see.
The changes we want to see
"British Columbia, unlike other provinces in Canada, has ceased to support or encourage or assist in any way the business of farming, and thus, the programs that are available elsewhere in Canada...are not available in British Columbia. Year after year, BC is dead last in Canada in support for farming. We have abandoned the sector...which, by the way, spans both governments (political parties) in BC." --Corky Evans, MLA Nelson-Creston, from his 2008 BC Tour of Agriculture Final Report.
In the past decades, provincial programs supporting agriculture in BC have steadily declined under the watch of both of BC's major political parties. BC now sits dead last in provincial support as a percentage of Agriculture GDP. That's why we are demanding that at a minimum, BC's provincial support for agriculture as a percentage of agriculture GDP be raised from 4% to the national average of 14%.
What could be done with this increase in funding for the agriculture industry? Below are just a few suggestions:
• Reinstate local agriculture extension agents across BC. These people used to know the soils, people, and resources of each region better than anyone. They were familiar with every farm. Today, with so many people new to farming moving back to the land, extension agents would be an invaluable asset to the industry.
• Create more funding for farming and food security non-profit organizations in BC.
• Create programs that encourage young people to enter the industry, such as an accredited apprenticeship program, and a website to help young people find affordable farming opportunities
• Bring back the Buy-BC marketing program
• Support, through a combination of grants and legislation, viable, local processing facilities
None of these changes can happen before our political parties start recognizing the desire among British Columbians for agriculture policy reform. To date, neither the BC Liberals nor the NDP have articulated a vision for the future of BC agriculture in their policy documents or platforms.
In staging the 2009 Farms, Farmers and Food Security Rally at the BC Legislature, we hope to demonstrate to all of BC’s political parties that these issues matter to British Columbians, and that many people intend to vote for the party that best articulates a vision for a prosperous food system in British Columbia.
In the past decades, provincial programs supporting agriculture in BC have steadily declined under the watch of both of BC's major political parties. BC now sits dead last in provincial support as a percentage of Agriculture GDP. That's why we are demanding that at a minimum, BC's provincial support for agriculture as a percentage of agriculture GDP be raised from 4% to the national average of 14%.
What could be done with this increase in funding for the agriculture industry? Below are just a few suggestions:
• Reinstate local agriculture extension agents across BC. These people used to know the soils, people, and resources of each region better than anyone. They were familiar with every farm. Today, with so many people new to farming moving back to the land, extension agents would be an invaluable asset to the industry.
• Create more funding for farming and food security non-profit organizations in BC.
• Create programs that encourage young people to enter the industry, such as an accredited apprenticeship program, and a website to help young people find affordable farming opportunities
• Bring back the Buy-BC marketing program
• Support, through a combination of grants and legislation, viable, local processing facilities
None of these changes can happen before our political parties start recognizing the desire among British Columbians for agriculture policy reform. To date, neither the BC Liberals nor the NDP have articulated a vision for the future of BC agriculture in their policy documents or platforms.
In staging the 2009 Farms, Farmers and Food Security Rally at the BC Legislature, we hope to demonstrate to all of BC’s political parties that these issues matter to British Columbians, and that many people intend to vote for the party that best articulates a vision for a prosperous food system in British Columbia.
Rally News Feed
April 20th, 2009: The rally summary: we had a good turnout on Sunday, and some terrific speeches by Brent Warner, Adam Saab, Lana Popham, Linda Geggie, Heather Stretch, and Tom Henry. Special thanks to the person who brought their tractor and drove it around the legislature for the duration of the event! Media coverage of the rally was decent, with good coverage from the Times Colonist and CFAX radio. Following the rally, Tom Henry, Brent Warner, and Jordan Marr spent an hour talking live on CFAX's Dave Dickson show about farming and food security.
For those looking to stay involved in food and agriculture politics during the election, mark April 30th on your calendars, for the Food Matters Panel taking place in downtown Victoria. The panel will feature candidates from local ridings discussing food and agriculture policy and taking questions from the audience. For more info visit fooddemocracy.org/new.
April 19th, 2009: Thanks to all those who made it out to the rally! Look for a summary tomorrow.
April 18th, 2009: Rally day! See you at the BC Legislature at 1:30 pm!
April 17th, 2009: Share Organics will be hosting a sign-making party at the Moss Street Market tomorrow between 10am and 12pm. Look for their table if you want to find out more about the rally, make a sign, or meet others who want to walk to the rally!
April 16, 2009: We received some good coverage a couple of days back from CFAX radio, in the form of an interview on the Afternoon Edition. Meanwhile, stories of sign-making parties and roosters on bike trailers are trickling in...the rally is two days away, and shaping up well.
April 13, 2009: Less than a week until rally day. Our confirmed speakers include Brent Warner, Linda Geggie, Heather Stretch, Tom Henry, and representatives from the Green Party and the NDP. The Liberals have yet to provide a speaker, but it looks as though they will do so soon.
April 8, 2009: An update on the rally will go out over the masses tomorrow, along with an advisory for local media.
April 6, 2009: Thus far we have had many questions about whether people can bring signage to the event. Of course! We prefer signage that focuses on issues that need attention, and that avoids partisan attacks, since we are trying to encourage all the parties to commit to improving their agriculture and food policy platforms.
April 3, 2009: Thus far, the Green party and the NDP have accepted our invitation to send a representative to speak at the rally.
March 31, 2009: We contacted representatives of BC's Liberal, NDP, and Green parties today, inviting each to send a representative to speak about their parties' food and agriculture policies at the rally.
March 29, 2009: The BC Food Systems Network has released its BC Election Food Action Toolkit. This is packed with useful information about the coming election and about the food and agricultural policy issues we are rallying for.
March 28, 2009: A quiet day for the planners, but we've continued to receive emails bearing well wishes and RSVPs. A reminder to visitors: please leave your comments in the 'Have your say' section!
March 27, 2009: The first wave email went out into cyberspace today. So far, a very positive response. We spoke with a group of people from the interior who plan on coming, and have had a number of emails back from Island folks who intend on showing up. We have had a few organizations pledge their support for the rally...we will get those listed on this blog in the next day or two.
March 26, 2009: tomorrow we launch our communications campaign. The following email will be sent out over the land:
Fellow Farmers & Eaters,
Are you concerned about the future of farming in BC, and about our food quality and food security? If so, you need to join us for a major rally in support of agriculture, 1:30 pm, Saturday, April 18, at the BC Legislature.
Let’s send a message to all politicians during the election campaign: farms & farmers count!
Urgent issues:
--decline of agriculture in BC
--lack of support for local food production
--unaffordable farm land
--vanishing meat processing capacity
--erosion of ALR
Neither the NDP nor the Liberals have shown a clear commitment to BC’s farmers.
This is an excellent opportunity to make your voice count!
Who should be there:
--farmers & their families
--supporters of local food
--restaurants and grocery stores
--members of the public concerned with the decline in agriculture.
We need farms, now farms need us!
Mark your calendars! April 18th, 1:30 pm, at the BC Legislature.
For more information, please vist the 2009 Farms, Farmers, and Food Security Rally Blog: http://2009foodsecurityrally.blogspot.com/
Here, you can RSVP for the rally, find rally updates, read more details about the policy changes we want to rally around, and have an opportunity to express the agricultural policy issues that matter the most to you.
Contacts: Jordan Marr: jordan.marr@gmail.com
Tom Henry: tomhenry@smallfarmcanada.ca
Thanks for your time!
For those looking to stay involved in food and agriculture politics during the election, mark April 30th on your calendars, for the Food Matters Panel taking place in downtown Victoria. The panel will feature candidates from local ridings discussing food and agriculture policy and taking questions from the audience. For more info visit fooddemocracy.org/new.
April 19th, 2009: Thanks to all those who made it out to the rally! Look for a summary tomorrow.
April 18th, 2009: Rally day! See you at the BC Legislature at 1:30 pm!
April 17th, 2009: Share Organics will be hosting a sign-making party at the Moss Street Market tomorrow between 10am and 12pm. Look for their table if you want to find out more about the rally, make a sign, or meet others who want to walk to the rally!
April 16, 2009: We received some good coverage a couple of days back from CFAX radio, in the form of an interview on the Afternoon Edition. Meanwhile, stories of sign-making parties and roosters on bike trailers are trickling in...the rally is two days away, and shaping up well.
April 13, 2009: Less than a week until rally day. Our confirmed speakers include Brent Warner, Linda Geggie, Heather Stretch, Tom Henry, and representatives from the Green Party and the NDP. The Liberals have yet to provide a speaker, but it looks as though they will do so soon.
April 8, 2009: An update on the rally will go out over the masses tomorrow, along with an advisory for local media.
April 6, 2009: Thus far we have had many questions about whether people can bring signage to the event. Of course! We prefer signage that focuses on issues that need attention, and that avoids partisan attacks, since we are trying to encourage all the parties to commit to improving their agriculture and food policy platforms.
April 3, 2009: Thus far, the Green party and the NDP have accepted our invitation to send a representative to speak at the rally.
March 31, 2009: We contacted representatives of BC's Liberal, NDP, and Green parties today, inviting each to send a representative to speak about their parties' food and agriculture policies at the rally.
March 29, 2009: The BC Food Systems Network has released its BC Election Food Action Toolkit. This is packed with useful information about the coming election and about the food and agricultural policy issues we are rallying for.
March 28, 2009: A quiet day for the planners, but we've continued to receive emails bearing well wishes and RSVPs. A reminder to visitors: please leave your comments in the 'Have your say' section!
March 27, 2009: The first wave email went out into cyberspace today. So far, a very positive response. We spoke with a group of people from the interior who plan on coming, and have had a number of emails back from Island folks who intend on showing up. We have had a few organizations pledge their support for the rally...we will get those listed on this blog in the next day or two.
March 26, 2009: tomorrow we launch our communications campaign. The following email will be sent out over the land:
Fellow Farmers & Eaters,
Are you concerned about the future of farming in BC, and about our food quality and food security? If so, you need to join us for a major rally in support of agriculture, 1:30 pm, Saturday, April 18, at the BC Legislature.
Let’s send a message to all politicians during the election campaign: farms & farmers count!
Urgent issues:
--decline of agriculture in BC
--lack of support for local food production
--unaffordable farm land
--vanishing meat processing capacity
--erosion of ALR
Neither the NDP nor the Liberals have shown a clear commitment to BC’s farmers.
This is an excellent opportunity to make your voice count!
Who should be there:
--farmers & their families
--supporters of local food
--restaurants and grocery stores
--members of the public concerned with the decline in agriculture.
We need farms, now farms need us!
Mark your calendars! April 18th, 1:30 pm, at the BC Legislature.
For more information, please vist the 2009 Farms, Farmers, and Food Security Rally Blog: http://2009foodsecurityrally.
Here, you can RSVP for the rally, find rally updates, read more details about the policy changes we want to rally around, and have an opportunity to express the agricultural policy issues that matter the most to you.
Contacts: Jordan Marr: jordan.marr@gmail.com
Tom Henry: tomhenry@smallfarmcanada.ca
Thanks for your time!
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