Preamble:    

By mandate of the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, the Northern Food Prices Project was established in July 2002 and completed in December of that year.

The mandate of the Northern Food Prices Project was to submit a report to Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet identifying strategic options to address the concern about high food prices in northern Manitoba. This concern is related to the nutritional health and food security of northern citizens. The purpose was further defined to focus on one specific aspect of the issue: strategic options that could reduce the retail price of nutritious foods to northern citizens.

A primary recommendation of the Northern Food Prices Report, 2003 was as follows: 

“Northern Food Self-Sufficiency Initiative – a comprehensive and long-term strategy to build local food provision activity and capacity in the north. As nutritious foods are produced, harvested, processed and marketed locally, the costs may be reduced by replacing the imported product with a local food supply.” 

In the November 2006 Speech from the Throne the provincial government pledged to expand the Northern Foods Project, which among other things encourages and provides support for gardening, rearing poultry and food preservation.  

Resolution:  That the Government of Manitoba work with the University College of the North and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba to develop a research program for northern agriculture. 

Resolution Report:  

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce produces Resolution reports as part of its commitment to be accountable to its members. The reports are updated as matters unfold and have two components:

MCC Advocacy: Specific activities the MCC has done to help make this Resolution a reality. 

Developments:  All other information (e.g. government action, media coverage, reports) that relates to Resolution. 

Advice, comments, and information sharing are welcome; simply enter a reply at the bottom of this post.

MCC Advocacy: 

May 11, 2010: The 2010-2011 Resolutions were posted on the MCC website, listed as part of a comprehensive Report on AGM 2010 and then notice of this story was circulated through the MCC E-Update is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 16, 2010: Resolution books were sent to every MLA and every Member of Parliament that hails from Manitoba. The following had this Resolution specifically drawn to their attention with a detailed letter setting out the background to this issue, Government initiatives (where applicable), and an argument for the Resolution:

• The Minister Advanced Education and Literacy
• The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
• The Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs

Developments:

May 4, 2010: The Government issues a news release entitled “Young Gardeners Share Seeds with World: Manitoba Teachers Invited to UN Commission on Sustainable Development.” 

The release contained the following: 

“The Mel Johnson School Gardening Project began in 2006 as a part of the division’s science curriculum Veggie Adventures.  Seeds sprout in a greenhouse and are transplanted into gardens around the school in Wabowden.  In a place where produce must be flown in from hundreds of miles away, the project allows children and their families to grow their own food and add fresh vegetables to their diets.  

The project was one of three selected as good practice examples by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to be presented at this year’s Commission on Sustainability.  It was chosen out of 60 examples from over 30 countries because it demonstrates:

• how formal education can contribute to sustainability,
• how whole communities can contribute to sustainable practices,
• how other communities can duplicate the project, and
• how Aboriginal communities contribute and benefit from sustainability projects. 

Click here to read the entire release.

July 27, 2010: The Honourable Diane McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, wrote to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce on this issue. 

Here is the Minister’s response: 

Although there is no specific initiative planned for the Resolution that the government work with the University College of the North and the University of Manitoba to develop a research program for northern agriculture, there are several similar government initiatives currently in place. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives’ Northern Agriculture Program is designed to provide support to northern residents in the areas of food production and sustainable northern agriculture development through increased agricultural production across northern Manitoba. Northern residents are supported in their efforts to find ways to grow, preserve, and market fresh foods in their communities. This helps them improve their nutrition, while boosting local economic development, creating jobs and promoting entrepreneurism. 

Other similar government initiatives include the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative which supports several community projects to promote nutrition and build capacity to access healthy foods throughout the province. The Non-Timber Products Program is designed to support entrepreneurs and youth to take advantage of opportunities to launch and grow businesses based on harvesting, developing and marketing wild-harvested products available in and around northern communities.

August 18, 2010: The Honourable Stan Struthers; Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives; wrote to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce on this issue, advising as follows:

“Regarding Northern Agriculture, a Northern GO Team was established in Thompson in April of 2009 with Allen Muggaberg as the Manager. This followed in conjunction with the announcement of the Northern Agriculture Program, as part of the Growing Forward agreement. This program will receive $600,000 in funding over four years to provide support to northern residents to develop and increase agriculture and food production and to improve the supply of healthy foods to northern Manitoba residents. Consultations and planning on how best to develop agriculture in the north are ongoing with various stakeholders, including the University of Manitoba.

In the meantime, we continue to provide support to communities involved in the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative. This has involved developing training and resources in northern gardening, poultry and egg production, along with food preparation, preservation and storage.”