WOODSTOCK, NB, June 25,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay,
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, met with Woodstock First Nation Chief Tim Paul and
community members, where he highlighted a federal investment of up
to $62,124 for Woodstock First Nation under the Local Food
Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).
This investment will allow Woodstock
First Nation to purchase a tractor, acquire greenhouse
equipment, install an irrigation system, and implement cold storage
and a cleaning station. As a result, Woodstock First Nation will be able to increase
their food production, which will improve access to nutritious,
locally grown food for the community. This project is in addition
to new garden space and three greenhouses to increase food
availability for Woodstock First
Nation, made possible by a previous investment of
$41,074 under the third phase of
LFIF.
LFIF is a key component of the first-ever Food Policy for
Canada and central to efforts
to build a healthier and more sustainable food system in
Canada. That is why Budget 2024
included a commitment of $62.9 million over three years, starting in
2024-2025, for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to renew and expand
LFIF and invest in local food infrastructure. New intake details
and dates will be announced soon.
Quotes
"I'm always pleased to see the results of our Local Food
Infrastructure Fund in action. As we continue our efforts to
stabilize food prices and make life more affordable for families,
our investments through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund will
help put more healthy, local food on tables here in New Brunswick and right across the
country."
- The Honourable Lawrence
MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Food security for Indigenous communities is a top priority for
our Government. Through this partnership, Woodstock First Nation will continue through
self determination to support their members and offer a brighter,
healthier future for the next generation."
- Jenica Atwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for
Fredericton
"With the invaluable support of the Local Food Infrastructure
Fund (LFIF), Woodstock First Nation
has substantially expanded its capacity to distribute nutritious
food to our community. As longstanding stewards of the land, we
profoundly recognize the urgent need to address food security
comprehensively. By bolstering our distribution capabilities, we
aim to create a lasting legacy for generations to come. A holistic
approach to food security encompasses not only providing access to
healthy diet, but also promoting sustainable agricultural practices
and fostering community involvement."
- Woodstock First Nation Chief and Council
Quick Facts
- Since it first launched in August
2019, LFIF has committed $65
million to support over 1,100 projects to improve food
security across Canada, such as:
community gardens and kitchens; refrigerated trucks and storage
units for donated food; greenhouses in remote and Northern
communities; and more.
- The fifth phase of LFIF was officially launched on May 4, 2023. In total, more than $10 million was invested, with projects receiving
between $15,000 and $120,000 each.
- Woodstock First Nation's project
is one of six community-led projects across New Brunswick announced on January 17, 2024, that received a total of
$266,420 under the fifth intake of
LFIF for equipment and infrastructure needs to help improve the
accessibility of nutritious, local food. For project details,
please refer to the list of Local Food Infrastructure Fund projects
(fifth intake).
- Since the launch of LFIF in 2019, over 35 projects have been
supported in New Brunswick,
representing a total of more than $1.5
million.
- LFIF complements other ongoing federal efforts to address food
security in Indigenous, remote and Northern communities, including
through Nutrition North Canada. The Indigenous Pathfinder service
is a one-stop shop that offers advice and referral to help navigate
the relevant information, tools and support available to start or
expand activities in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
- In an effort to enhance transparency and to help Canadians make
informed decisions about their food purchases, the Government of
Canada launched the Food Price
Data Hub in October 2023. The Hub
provides consumers with timely data on food prices in Canada in a central and easy-to-access
location, through a partnership between Statistics Canada,
Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada and Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada.
Additional Links
- Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation
- Food Policy for Canada
- List of Local Food Infrastructure Fund Projects
- Local Food Infrastructure Fund
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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada