Canada launches food security strategy to help strengthen food supply in northern communities

In an effort to combat food insecurity and soaring grocery prices, the federal government launched a new National Food Security Strategy.

Speaking directly to northern citizens at Green Lake, Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, highlighted the launch of the strategy and how it will impact remote communities.

According to Belanger, it will drive production and innovation, support independent grocers, and create greater competition across Canada’s food systems to help lower prices.

“We know food security isn’t just come policy discussion, it’s real life. We know people in the north are paying more because of where we live. And we know what it means when fresh, healthy food is harder to find,” said Belanger at the press conference at Green Lake.

“No matter where you live, every Canadian deserves access to good, affordable, healthy food.”

Backed by a $3 billion investment over ten years, the strategy contains four main objectives.

– Spur grocery store competition and choice by investing $1 billion into food infrastructure.

– Boost domestic food production across Canada through funds for agri-food production and food security to help businesses grow, produce, and process more foods in Canada.

– A $750 million investment into greenhouses, vertical farms, and other enclosed growing spaces to help year-round Canadian production of fruit and vegetables.

– Reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and producers.

“We need to do more than grow food. We need to process more of it here, create more jobs here, and keep more of that value in our communities,” said Belanger. “Northern Saskatchewan can be part of that solution.”

Green Lake, predominately a Métis community, is located roughly 50 kilometres of Meadow Lake, and is the third oldest settlement in the province. The community previously received funding to strengthen food security under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund.

“I welcome the opportunity for Green Lake to be a food hub community. It has been a tradition to grow our own food and to forage meat and fish; this has been lost to the current generation,” said Green Lake Mayor Jim Laliberte.

“Today, we are glad to re-establish this tradition.”

Since 1974, Green Lake has operated farmland and leases grazing land to cattle producers from Alberta. Belanger said that the community is well situated to grow and distribute food across the north.

“All of this strategy is about making concrete investments needed to ensure people in our region and across Canada have more access to affordable food,” said Belanger.

“It’s also about building a future where northern, rural, and Indigenous communities have more control over your own food security.”