ADAM OLSEN: I believe the government has an incredible opportunity to help create active partnerships between the agricultural producers in the province and our food banks
According to Food Banks BC, 80,000 British Columbians use a
food bank each month. Yet, as we learned from "The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste"
a report by Second Harvest released earlier this year,
Canadians waste an unbelievable amount of food.
"The research estimates that the total avoidable and unavoidable
food loss and waste occurring annually along the Canadian food value chain
equates to 35.5 million metric tonnes, of which 11.2 million metric tonnes
(32%) is avoidable food loss and waste -- the equivalent of the weight of almost
95 CN Towers."
"Based on the consumer value of food, the value of avoidable food loss
and waste equates to $49.5 billion, representing 51.8 percent of the money
Canadians spent on food purchased from retail stores in Canada in 2016. ($49.5
billion equates to 3% of Canada’s 2016 GDP and would feed every person living
in Canada for almost 5 months.)"
Waste less food
In a recent phone call with Beverley Elder, Executive Director of
the Saanich Peninsula Lion's Food Bank, I learned
about the BC Farmers' Food Donation Tax Credit.
The three-year program was initially created by the BC Liberals. It has been
extended for one year to 2021 by the BC NDP government. The tax credit gives
farmers 25% of qualifying gifts when they donate to a registered charity such
as a food bank or school meal program.
This week I met with Beverley and Laura Lansink, Executive Director of Food Banks BC, to learn more. They are strongly advocating that this tax
credit program become permanent. It will help establish the program as a
reliable way to recover some of the food loss in British Columbia.
A third of their clients are children and there is a growing population
of seniors using their services. Local food banks across the province are
overwhelmed by the need. Every incentive that can help them access fresh food
for our friends, family and neighbours in need is greatly appreciated.
Keep it going
There is a fear that the province will not extend the tax credit. One of
the challenges in the first few years is that uptake of the program has been
low. While the province is actively advocating for
British Columbians to lower the volume of food we waste, the tax credit program
is confusing and difficult to deliver. The province can provide clearer
information to food bank operators about how the program works.
In addition, I believe the government has an incredible opportunity to
help create active partnerships between the agricultural producers in the
province and our food banks.
Many people in our communities are struggling because the cost of living
is outpacing incomes, pensions and savings. Disruption in our workforce and the
changing nature of work, compensation and remuneration are further adding
stress to these growing social tensions.
I am hoping this post helps draw attention to the incredible amount of
good food we waste.
By acknowledging this situation, we expose an opportunity we have to
help each other out. I also highlight an opportunity the provincial government
has to become an ever more prominent voice in encouraging us to reduce food
waste and to actively use the tools we have to offer incentives that create
better outcomes.
Adam Olsen ... is a Green
Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Saanich North
and the Islands.
Born in Victoria, BC in 1976,
Adam has lived, worked and played his entire life on the Saanich Peninsula. He
is a member of Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), where he
and his wife, Emily, are raising their two children, Silas and Ella.
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