B2-How can I ensure that everyone in Ontario has enough nutritious, safe, culturally approrpiate, affordable food that can be accessed in a dignified manner?

Developed and lead by: Dianne Dowling

Participants: Andy and Irene Melnick and Marie Traynor

Barriers

Lack of income

Lack of suitable employment opportunities

Labour competition in the global market

Lack of knowledge about nutrition

Issues in the entire social/political/economic systems

Food advertising is on the side of corporate food distribution; subliminal advertising; advertising that captures the imagine; manufacturers consistent; impose attitudes

Solutions

People need to value food, the amount we have, where it comes from, the cost of producing it, etc

 We need the political will and political awareness (see environmentalist Eli Parseau (sp?) essay in Orion magazine How people are influenced by the media "Our demoncracy lies in the hands of the clueless")

Improve social security - like minimum wage - increase to meet increasing costs

Revamp welfare system including incentives for employment; don't penalize people if they do earn some money

We have to accomodate those people who can't work; guaranteed annual income

Ensure safe and sound affordable housing to allow sufficient income for fairly-priced food purchases

Teach children to understand where their food comes from and what's in it

Use the media to raise awareness of the current food safety regulations

Could limit advertising of low-nutrition foods; warnings on low-nutrition foods; think of the movement to reduce cigarette smoking