Please note – Due to the by-election taking place this month, the VFPC’s September 13th, 2017 meeting will be held at Woodwards Building, 111 Hasting Street, 5^th Floor, immediately outside of the elevators.

Meeting Agenda
September 13, 2017, 6:00- 8:30 pm
Location: Woodwards Building, 111 Hasting Street, 5^th Floor
Chairs: Caitlin Dorward, David Speight (acting)
Regrets: Stefan Misse, Stephanie Lim

Join us for our July 19th Meeting! | Where: Town Hall Room Vancouver City Hall

You can find a detailed Agenda here.

• Homelands acknowledgement and round of introductions
• Approve minutes from June 2017 meeting
• Liaison Updates
  • City Councillors
  • Parks Board Commissioner
  • Parks Board Staff – Rebecca Till
  • Other liaisons – time permitting
• Wild Salmon Caravan: Update and Discussion of VFPC Role
• National Food Policy Report Back & Next Steps
•  Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in our Food System: Exploring how the VFPC can Support Climate Action
  • Dr. Tara Moreau (VFPC) – Introduction
  • Sara Muir Owen (Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions) – BC Mitigation and Adaptation
• Priorities and Projects
  • Dr. Sean Smukler (UBC) – Regional farming adaptation strategies
  • Kate Menzes and Dr. Art Bomke (SPEC) – Urban Farming Adaptation and Extension
  • Katie McPherson (City of Vancouver) – Resiliency Strategy
• Bread Basket
• Motion to adjourn

Co-Chairs: Kimberley Hodgson and Caitlin Dorward

1. Homelands acknowledgement and acknowledgement of National Aboriginal Day (6:00-15)
2. Approval of May 2017 meeting minutes (6:15-20)
3. Working Group Update: Children & Youth Food WG
   ● Motion on a National School Food Program (6:20-35)
4. VFPC Priorities for “A Food Policy for Canada” Summit (6:35-7:20)

Background: Caitlin and Kim will be representing the VFPC at a June 22-23 Summit being held by the federal gov’t to gather input on the development of “A Food Policy for Canada”. Specifically, they are consulting on the themes of

• Increasing access to affordable food;
• Improving health and food safety;
• Conserving our soil, water, and air; and,
• Growing more high-quality food.

The goal of this working session is to articulate the VFPC’s policy priorities related to these themes (and beyond), and priorities related to the implementation/administration of the Food Policy for Canada, for Caitlin and Kim to represent at the summit.
● Overview and explanation of session (5 minutes)
● Small Group Discussion in four thematic breakout groups (40 minutes)
○ Part A: What are our priorities related to the theme? How do these priorities align with the Gov’t’s priorities?
○ Part B: What priorities don’t fit? What’s missing?

Break (7:20-30)

4. (continuation from before break (7:30-8:20)
● Large Group Discussion
○ Part A: small group note takers report back (5 mins each)
○ Part B: discussion (15 mins)
● Recap & Confirm (10 mins)

5. Bread Basket (8:20-30)
6. Motion to Adjourn and move to social gathering 8:30

In April the Vancouver Food Policy Council sent out a food policy questionnaire to all Vancouver provincial standing nominees with the following questions:

1.  The BC food system impacts public health, social well-­‐being, community development, land use, education, economic prosperity, natural resources, public safety, and transportation in multiple ways. If elected, how will you advance and coordinate food systems initiatives across various ministries of provincial government?

2.  Food insecurity is directly linked to the unacceptable rates of poverty in BC. If elected, would you commit to implementing a comprehensive poverty reduction plan with legislated targets and timelines within the next term of office? If yes, how would you do so?

3.  One in six BC children lives in a food insecure household. Despite this, BC does not have a universal school food program for public school children. If elected, what would you do to ensure that school aged children have access to healthy meals and food literacy programming in school?

4.  Indigenous food systems continue to be eroded through ongoing colonialism. Indigenous communities are raising concerns regarding the negative impacts of development and extraction projects on their ability to maintain traditional food practices. If elected, what measures would you commit to undertaking to ensure the protection and continuing revitalization of Indigenous food practices in BC?

5.  The Agricultural Land Reserve is a long-­‐standing public legacy that enables a viable agricultural sector and food security for future generations in BC. If elected, what government policies would you support to ensure the long-­‐term protection, viability, and use of the lands in the Agricultural Land Reserve? What additional approaches would you take to foster a viable and sustainable local farming sector in BC?

6.  The Climate Action Plan is B.C.’s roadmap to an emerging green economy for the province that outlines how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020. If elected, how would you support adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture and food sector?

7.  Food waste is an economic, social and environmental problem that occurs in all sectors the food system. If elected, how would you advance the reduction of food waste in BC

8.  We know that neonicotinoid pesticides are toxic to bees and other insects that benefit our food system. If elected, would you commit to reducing the use of neonicotinoid pesticides across the province? If yes, what measures would you take to do so?

9.  If elected, what other food issues or initiatives would you like to advance in the coming term?

You can read the responses we received below:

BC Green Party Response

BC Liberal Party Response

BC NDP_Party Response

Happy New Year! We invite all members of the public to join us at the first meeting of 2017, taking place on January 18th.

The agenda includes updates from all of our working groups on their achievements from the past term and plan for transitioning to next term. We also plan to celebrate Global Pulse Day with a potluck of pulse-based foods prepared by our council members. If you feel so inspired, bring a dish to share!

Wednesday, January 18th, 6-8:30pm,
Town Hall Room, Vancouver City Hall
All Welcome

Full Agenda Here: VFPCMtg_2017.01.18_Draftagendashort

The VFPC does not meet as a full council in December (though some of our working groups are still keeping busy over the holidays!).

Our next meeting is on January 18th, 2017. See you in the New Year!

The current term of the VFPC ends on February 28th, 2017 and the City of Vancouver is currently accepting applications for the 2017-18 VFPC term. If you are interested in joining the VFPC for next term, now is the time to apply!

FAQs about VFPC membership and the application process:

Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A:  All the eligibility criteria is available on this City of Vancouver website.

Q: How can I prepare a stronger application?
A: We encourage you to look around our website for more information about the council and the work we do. Past meeting minutes will give you a sense of the issues we work on and the way we work. Also familiarize yourself with the City of Vancouver information about the VFPC and about civic agencies in general.

Please keep in mind that (as our name suggests) the focus of our organization is on advancing and supporting municipal policy, so our work is distinct from that of the many community organizations delivering food systems programming across Vancouver. The VFPC is the place for you if you have an interest in municipal policy as it relates to our food system in Vancouver.

If you want to chat with a current VFPC member to get more information, please email us at info@vancouverfoodpolicycouncil.ca so that we can connect you with someone.

Q: What time commitment is expected of members? 
A: Our goal is to have an active council where members contribute at meetings, online, and in working groups. The minimum expectation is that members prepare for and attend monthly meetings (10/year) (please check your availability for 2017 meeting dates, posted here), but all members are also encouraged to join at least one of our Working Groups. Working Groups typically meet about once/month outside of full council meetings. You can find out about current Working Groups here (note that we are open to the formation of new groups based on future emerging priorities of the City and/or the interests of VFPC members).

Overall, the time commitment involved in being an active VFPC member varies for person to person and month to month. But as an example, in a typical month one might spend 1 hour preparing for the full council meeting, 2.5 hours at the full council meeting, 1-2 hours in Working Group meeting(s), 3-6 hours on Working Group and full council email/computer work, and 1-2 hours working on ad-hoc or time sensitive issues, for a total minimum of 8.5 – 13.5 hours per month. Of course if you are able to contribute more, that is always welcome but we recognize that this is a volunteer position that has to be balanced with other commitments.

Q: What are the benefits of VFPC membership? 
A: In addition to having the opportunity to contribute to positive food systems change and food policy in Vancouver, VFPC members benefit from the opportunity to network with, learn from, and befriend other food system movers and shakers.

Q: How are VFPC members selected?
A: Committee members are selected through the City of Vancouver’s Civic Committee public selection process. Current VFPC members are not involved in the selections process.

Q: When does the 2017-18 term begin?
A: March 1st, 2017.

Q: What is the application deadline?
A: Friday, October 28, 2016 at 5pm.

Q: Where do I apply?
A: On this City of Vancouver website

Join us this Wednesday for our regular VFPC meeting.  At this meeting we are acknowledging World Food Day (October 16th) and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17th). In keeping with this theme, we are pleased to welcome guest presenter Gerry Kasten (Public Health & Home Care Dietitian,Vancouver Coastal Health) on the findings of the Food Costing in BC 2015 report. Breakout discussion groups to follow.

Wednesday, October 12th, 6-8:30pm,
Town Hall Room, Vancouver City Hall
All Welcome

Full agenda here