CANADIAN FOOD INSECURITY - WAS IT AVOIDABLE?

CANDAIDAN FOOD INSECURITY CRISIS: AVOIDABLE?

Ron Everall, a dedicated rural farmer, committed school teacher and respected Prince Edward County (PEC) councilor, identified a developing food insecurity issue in Canada back in 2006 and gained unanimous support from the PEC Council to address the issue at all levels of government.

Ron’s untimely passing, however, appears to have lead to the abandonment of that particular cause.

Still, all levels of government in Canada knew or ought to have known that preemptive measures were necessary to prevent significant, imminent food insecurity issues here in Canada.

Yet, in 2023, the PEC Mayor declared that the County has the second highest rate of food insecurity in Ontario.

The following information begs consideration in a reach for necessary clarity on the matter:

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA

COUNCIL MEETING - APRIL 10, 2006

Motion 2006-201

Moved by Councillor Marisett

Seconded by Councillor Burris

WHEREAS primary agriculture is an essential integral component of Canadian rural economies in particular and of Canadian urban economies in general;

AND WHEREAS Canadian primary agricultural producers are the foundation for sustainable communities across Canada;

AND WHEREAS Canada, which was once considered ‘the breadbasket of the world’, is now in actual risk of losing our safe domestic food supply and becoming dependent upon imported food;

AND WHEREAS Canadian farmers are currently experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis which jeopardizes the future of family farms and the greater related agricultural industry throughout the country;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT The Council of the County of Prince Edward requests the Provincial and Federal governments to take immediate action to address the current, unprecedented farm income crisis;

THAT they provide immediate and sufficient financial support to ensure the planting of this year’s crops and a fair return from this year’s farm commodities;

THAT all levels of government across Canada meet with farm organizations to develop long term strategies to resolve farm issues, including but not necessarily limited to: supply management support, income stabilization and orderly marketing;

THAT a copy of this resolution be circulated to:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and the agriculture critics of all parties at the Federal and Ontario provincial levels of Government;

THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario be also provided with a copy of this resolution with a request that these organizations take appropriate action in support of this initiative; and

THAT a copy of this resolution be circulated to all municipalities in the Province of Ontario with a request for support.

Councillor Burris requested a Recorded Vote on Motion 2006-201

Name                                        In Favour             Opposed

                                             

BURRIS, Peggy                             X             

 CAMPBELL, Bev                         X

 DRAKE, Wayne                            X           

 DUNLOP, Jim                               X

 EVERALL, Ron                         ABSENT

FOX, Gordon                                 X

GALE, Kevin                                 X

MACDONALD, Keith                   X

MARISETT, Brian                         X

MORRIS, Paul                               X

SHORTT, Terry                              X

SLIK, Lori                                      X

TURPIN, Barry                              X

ALYEA, Monica                            X

BELL, Robert                                X

FINNEGAN, Mayor Leo P.           X

CARRIED

9.2 Recommendation of Councillor Everall and Councillor Marisett regarding local support and understanding of issues facing the agricultural community. Motion 2006-202 Moved by Councillor Marisett 

Seconded by Councillor MacDonald 

WHEREAS our local family farms are an essential and integral component of our local economy, community and culture; our local primary producers and related businesses are negatively impacted by the unprecedented economic crisis facing our family farms; 

AND WHEREAS Council wishes to support the local agricultural community and better understand its multiplicity of obstacles and issues; 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT the Council of the County of Prince Edward hold a special meeting of Council within the next sixty days for the purpose of hearing deputations from farm organizations, the farm community, affected businesses and the general public on agricultural issues. CARRIED

[SOURCE]

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA

SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEETING - MAY 25, 2006

1. CALL TO ORDER 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. 

Councillor Marisett paid tribute to the late Ron Everall, Councillor for North Marysburgh Ward 8, who was a strong advocate for the agricultural community and instrumental in organizing this meeting. Council observed one minute of silence in memory of Mr. Everall who passed away on May 20, 2006.

2. PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING

The purpose of the special meeting is to show support for our local agricultural community and to help members of Council better understand the impact of the economic crisis in agriculture on our local primary producers, family farms and related businesses. 

3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF 

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

Prior to commencing deputations the Mayor introduced Jacqui Burley, daughter of the late Ron Everall, who addressed Council, accompanied by her brother Steven Everall.

[AUTHOR’S NOTE: RON'S SECOND CHILD AND FIRST BORN SON, EDMUND, WAS ABSENT FROM THE MEETING, SUBSEQUENTLY CUT FROM RON'S WILL AND FURTHER SERVED WITH A NO-TRESPASS ORDER FROM HIS MOTHER AND SIBLINGS. EDMUND IS THIS AUTHOR'S FORMER SPOUSE.]

4. DEPUTATIONS 

The following deputations appeared before Council: 

4.1 Achim Mohseen-Beyk, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario Central Region 

4.2 John Thompson, Prince Edward County Federation of Agriculture 

4.3 Ken Marisett 

4.4 Wayne Gyde 

4.5 Lloyd Crowe 

4.6 Andy Margetson, President of the Prince Edward Cattlemen’s Association 

4.7 Sandra Latchford 

4.8 Robert Williams 

4.9 Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Leona Dombrowski 

4.10 Dean Foster 

4.11 Keith Taylor, Quinte Conservation Authority 

4.12 John Anderson 

4.13 M.P.P. Ernie Parsons 

4.14 Rob Pearsall on behalf of M.P. Daryl Kramp Written submissions were received from the following: 

4.15 Michael McMahon 

4.16 Wilma Courneyea on behalf of the County Farm Centre and Beatty Seeds 

4.17 Blane Way on behalf of Ken Leveck 

5. RESOLUTION 

Motion 2006-265 

Moved by Councillor Marisett 

Seconded by Councillor Burris

THAT the deputations, written submissions and information presented be received with thanks. 

CARRIED 

[SOURCE]

MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION - PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

October 17, 2023

WHEREAS, the United Nation's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17th throughout the world; and 

WHEREAS, Poverty is considered a violation of human rights; and 

WHEREAS, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have the primary goal to "end poverty in all its forms everywhere" by 2030; and 

WHEREAS, 13.5 percent of Prince Edward County residents are living in poverty; and 

WHEREAS, Prince Edward County has the second highest rate of food insecurity in Ontario; and 

WHEREAS, 50.8 percent of households in Prince Edward County earn less than the average provincial cost of living; and 

WHEREAS, 48.6% of renters in Prince Edward County spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, which is the national affordability threshold; and 

WHEREAS, Poverty projections suggest that the social and economic impacts of the current health crisis will be significant and will exacerbate these figures; 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT,

I, Steve Ferguson, Mayor of the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward, do hereby proclaim October 17, 2023 as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. 

Mayor Steve Ferguson 

DATED at Picton this 10th day of October, 2023

[SOURCE]