Agriculture committee  There are best before dates!

Agriculture committee  Not at Moisson Outaouais specifically, but a number of agencies in our network are looking at alternatives. They are focusing in particular on low-income families. For this segment of the population, that primarily means cooking together in community kitchens or taking workshops on cooking inexpensively.

Agriculture committee  Yes, there are groups that do at youth centres and community centres, for example. There are also intergenerational groups. All the agencies I know of in the Outaouais have difficulty because those programs are not subsidized. The fact is, however, that individual food independence is the future, since that independence is primarily an individual thing.

Agriculture committee  Even reducing poverty will not mean the end of food banks. There are always poor, very vulnerable, and sick people dealing with mental health problems or addictions who will need food banks. I mentioned the program to collect unsold products, which we also belong to. It is an outstanding program because we have agreements right across the province with the major food chains such as Loblaws, Metro, and Sobeys, which provide a tremendous supply by recovering unsold products.

Agriculture committee  I said primarily that this policy should include a poverty reduction strategy. It goes without saying that addressing poverty will reduce food insecurity. All three orders of government must be involved because they act in different areas of jurisdiction. The municipalities, for example, are very close to members of the public.

Agriculture committee  This is an ambitious project, but it is feasible. It addresses the aspirations of Canadians for a food system that is sustainable, fair, and respectful of the earth's resources. This Canadian policy is the stuff of dreams, but will it live up to its promises? We sincerely hope so.

Agriculture committee  Thank you for your invitation. I am happy to participate in these consultations and to have an opportunity to present our views, especially on the accessibility of quality food at affordable prices for people experiencing food insecurity. I am here as a representative of my organization.