Winnipeg Food Council
On February 22, 2017, City Council voted unanimously to authorize the creation of a Winnipeg Food Council. We accepted applications for the Food Council between March 28 and April 21, 2017.
The Food Council's Function will be to:
- Advise the Mayor and Council on food system related issues;
- Support the work of the community on food issues, enhance public health and local food security, and increase food literacy and access to food by encouraging multi-sector and strategic approaches, fostering coordination and networking, and supporting ongoing consultation; and
- Initiate the development of and support the implementation, maintenance and evaluation of a City of Winnipeg Agricultural and Food Strategy to address municipal food security and food system issues. The City of Winnipeg Agricultural and Food Strategy will:
- include policy directions identified through community engagement , focused research, innovative initiatives, and other actions to identify proven practices;
- include evaluation and implementation components; and
- be operationalized in partnership with the Winnipeg Public Service, the local food movement, businesses, community agencies, stakeholder groups, and private citizens.
- Background
- Timeline
- Documents
- FAQs
- Related Links
Background
On May 13, 2014, the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development concurred in the recommendation of the Riel Community Committee (May 5, 2014), that in recognition of 2014 being "The International Year of Family Farming", the Winnipeg Public Service be directed to research and provide recommendations on how best to ensure that the interests of Winnipeg's agricultural community are considered as the city continues to grow.
The result of this research was a report, which found that the interests of the agricultural community extend beyond preserving farmland to produce food. These interests involve the whole food system; from production to processing, buying/selling, eating and waste disposal. These issues affect everyone, and not just those living on farms. A recommendation in this report (on June 2, 2015) was that the Winnipeg Public Service:
"...engage key stakeholders to investigate and provide recommendations related to the formation, role and governance structure of a Winnipeg Food Policy Council, with a mandate of providing continued advice on agricultural and food related policy, including:
- Providing research and advisory support towards implementing the direction strategies related to food and agriculture outlined in OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities;
- Investigating barriers towards local agricultural production and exploring opportunities towards improving food production and food security;
- Preparing a report with recommendations to expand the list of permissible non-invasive agricultural-related uses throughout the City of Winnipeg; and
- Assisting in the creation of an Agricultural and Food Security Strategy to address local food production and security issues. This strategy would follow the policy directions for 'Rural and Agricultural' lands identified in Complete Communities and respond to food needsasidentifiedin the OurWinnipeg section on 'Vitality'."
In response to this recommendation, the Urban Planning Division researched successful food policy council formation, role and governance structure. Together with Food Matters Manitoba (a local food organization promoting food security and sustainability), the City hosted conversations with food-related stakeholders in May and June of 2016. A summary of stakeholder feedback and feedback from an online questionnaire can be found in the “documents” tab of this website.
On February 22, City Council concurred in the recommendations of the Executive Policy Committee, and authorized the creation and operation of the proposed Winnipeg Food Council by approving the recommended Terms of Reference document (Attachment A of the Administrative Report). City Council also referred a budget increase of $69,000 for consideration in the 2018 budget review process, and directed the Urban Planning Division to report back within 120 days with membership recommendations. The Administrative report, along with the Terms of Reference, can be viewed here.
Documents
| Document Name | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Application for membership | 2017-03 | Application form - mailing instructions can be found under "Engage" tab | Food Council Terms of Reference | 2017-02 | Committee Terms of Reference, approved by Council on February 22, 2017 | Towards a Winnipeg Food Policy Council | 2015-02 | Report provided at Stakeholder conversations |
| Winnipeg Committees and other Food Councils – Composition | 2015-05 | One-page summary provided at Stakeholder conversations |
| Winnipeg Committees and other Food Councils – Role | 2015-05 | One-page summary provided at Stakeholder conversations |
| Other Food Councils – Priority Areas | 2015-05 | One-page summary provided at Stakeholder conversations |
| Presentation at Stakeholder Conversations – Towards a Winnipeg Food Policy Council | 2015-05 | Presentation at Stakeholder conversations |
| What we Heard | 2016-07 | Summary of stakeholder and online feedback |
| Poster | 2016-08 | Provides information for citizens and promotes public event - please share! |
| Information boards | 2016-08 | Information that will be shared at public event (booth at ManyFest) |
Frequently Asked Questions
A food policy council is a group that works with the political process to shape the local food system by looking at it from many different perspectives. Members are usually involved in different parts of the food system (producers, processors, distributors, eaters, etc.), and work together to create a sustainable, accessible, and dynamic food system. Food policy councils discuss food issues, coordinate between food system sectors, evaluate and influence policy, and support programs and services that address local needs. Different interests are brought together as the group discusses system issues, researches, and analyzes or proposes policy changes and / or programming related to the food system.
Date added: June 7, 2016
In general, food policy councils improve the local food system by advising policy makers, which includes research, oversight, advising and advocating for specific policies. They also gather information about the local food environment, build relationships with and between stakeholders, create an opportunity to study and discuss the food system as a whole, and develop strategies to better address community food security.
What food policy councils do can depend on the scale, structure, and mandate of each food policy council, along with local issues and needs. However, common activities include public awareness campaigns, education programs, research, community food assessments, advising on policy, improving coordination between existing food policies or programs, publicizing community food resources, and hosting public forums on food system topics.
Date added: June 7, 2016
Community groups have been requesting that the City establish a food policy council since 2008. Community input at the beginning of this project will help make sure Winnipeg's potential food policy council is structured and governed in a way acceptable to both the community and the government. With both community and political support, Winnipeg's food policy council will be able to make more positive policy changes to help the production, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food in Winnipeg.
OurWinnipeg recognizes that local food production and connections to our food are part of a vital and healthy neighbourhood (OurWinnipeg, Section 03-2). The Plan directs the City to respond to food needs as identified by communities by working through community partnerships. One of the ways to do this is to create a Food Policy Council.
Other OurWinnipeg policy directions directly or indirectly connected with food policy involve the need for intergovernmental cooperation, collaboration with economic and community economic development agencies, and a commitment to sustainable long-term planning (OurWinnipeg pp 50-51). Food issues also intersect with policy directions about sustainability (OurWinnipeg p 65), inclusion and opportunity (OurWinnipeg pp 75-77). The City has also been active in supporting community gardening by creating a Community Garden Policy.
Date added: June 7, 2016
There are currently over 200 food policy councils throughout Canada and the United States. Of that, at least 19 are embedded in government at the municipal level. In Canada, food policy councils from three cities – Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver –have been established by municipal government.
Date added: June 7, 2016
Food Council members will likely be confirmed by the end of summer 2017. After this, we expect that the Food Council will take some time to get to know each other and plan their next steps.
Date added: June 7, 2016
Although the Food Council will eventually get feedback on Winnipeggers’ priorities, new ideas about specific activities will have to wait for a bit. For the next while, we will be focusing on committee membership and figuring out how to get everything started. Once membership is confirmed, the Food Council will likely begin making plans for public consultation and other potential initiatives.
Date added: June 7, 2016
Related Links
City of Winnipeg
- February 22, 2017 Council decision (includes February 8, 2017 recommendation of the Executive Policy Committee)
- June 2, 2015 motion of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development
Manitoba
- Food Matters Manitoba – Future of Food Forum Information
- Food Matters Manitoba – Future of Food Report
- Food Matters Manitoba – Community Food Assessments
Other Canadian cities
Research - North America
- Municipal Food Policy Entrepreneurs Report – A preliminary analysis of how Canadian cities and regional districts are involved in food system change
- Doing Food Policy Councils Right – A guide to development and action
- Planning and Establishing Food Policy Councils – lessons learned from others
- Best Practices in Local Food: A guide for municipalities