(Le français suit.)  

Join us for A Conversation with the United Nations about the Right to Food On March 4^th and 5^th at 12 pm EST   

Dear friends,

Last year, Food Secure Canada worked with many of you on the mission to Canada of Dr Olivier de Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. His preliminary observations were shared with the Government of Canada, but they were quickly dismissed as “ill-informed” and “patronizing.” Our federal government’s response provoked a letter by Food Secure Canada, Amnesty International and others, in which we underlined the critical significance of the United Nations human rights protection system and our concern about the Government’s reaction.

This year, on March 4, Olivier de Schutter will present his final report on Canada directly to the United Nations Council on Human Rights in Geneva. This is a matter of utmost importance to Canadians concerned with poverty, discrimination, health, obesity, sustainable agriculture and food systems, and the rights of Aboriginal, Northern and remote communities to healthy and affordable food.

And we are inviting you to collaborate with Food Secure Canada once again. You can do so by

1. organizing a community event  on March 4th or 5^th with a live link to Geneva;
2. sharing information via social media;
3. supporting this effort financially.

Dr. De Schutter’s preliminary observations echoed many of the concerns that preoccupy the Canadian food movement. He spoke eloquently of the international legal obligations to ensure all Canadians enjoy the right to food and to which we are bound. Specifically, he highlighted:

• that we have no national food policy and we need to develop one;
• that 1.9 million Canadians live in severe or moderate food insecurity;
• that 62% of Canadians are overweight or obese, costing billions in health care and lost productivity;
• that 17.8 % of First Nations adults report hunger and insufficient purchasing power for food;
• the dominance of large scale unsustainable input-intensive agricultural policies;
• shortcomings in our social protection system;
• concerns regarding food security and indigenous peoples, particularly as they relate to Nutrition North Canada, access to traditional and country food, and access to land.

Food Secure Canada will be hosting two web conversations with the UN Special Rapporteur to discuss his findings. This is a remarkable opportunity for him to present his report directly to Canadian civil society organizations – such as yourselves. The two webinars with De Schutter – one in English and one in French – will take place on March 4 and March 5, respectively.  Both sessions begin at noon (EST) and will last 90 minutes.  This is a unique opportunity to participate in a key discussion, ask questions, make comments and begin to think collectively on what we should be doing to advance the right to food in Canada.  

Organize a community event

There are a limited number of call-in lines (via interactive webinar provided by the University of Carleton), so we are asking people to gather in groups. Consider organizing an event – at your community centre, in your school, at your local food bank, on your farm.

Please fill out this form and describe what kind of event you would like to organize.

We will accept as many proposals as we can possibly accommodate, with priority given to those who meet a set of criteria.

Make this event a reality – Donate Today!

Please support this important event by making a donation to Food Secure Canada. Your support helps us ensure strong national coordination and covers logistics and communications costs. Every little bit counts. If you can financially support this work, please send your cheque to Food Secure Canada, 3720 avenue du Parc, suite 201, Montréal, QC H2X 4J1.