Today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, highlighted an investment of up to $55,885 to three organizations in the Northwest Territories under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund first application period.  

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund, a five-year, $50-million program under the Food Policy for Canada, is aimed at community-based, not-for-profit organizations. The mission of the program is to reduce food insecurity by establishing and/or strengthening local food systems in the medium to longer term. The first phase of the program was launched mid-summer of 2019 and closed in November 2019, with 362 projects receiving funding valued at up to $25,000 per project, for a total of $6.6 million.

COVID-19 has intensified the food needs of the most vulnerable people but, above all, it is having a major impact on the operation of organizations working to improve food security. In April, the Government also launched a separate, $100 million emergency fund under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to support national, regional, and local organizations across Canada that are able to reach people and communities experiencing food insecurity and who have been impacted by COVID-19. This fund supports the purchase and distribution of food on an emergency basis across the country.

Today’s announcement supports local projects by Northern Farm Training Institute ($25,000), Tłı̨chǫ Łeàgı̨ą Tsʾı̨ı̨lı̨ Kǫ ($19,385), and Łútsël K'é Dene First Nation ($11,500).

Quotes

“Supporting local food development and distribution is critical to having healthy Northern communities. Through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada is assisting organizations in the Northwest Territories in the fight against food insecurity.”

• Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories

“Through our Building Local Food Resilience project (funded by the LFIF), we will increase our capacity to store the local food our students produce and greatly increase our ability to provide that food to the Indigenous communities, women, seniors and youth in need in our region. We will accomplish this through building a solar charging station so we have renewable energy for our garden equipment / produce transportation as well as building a large capacity root cellar to store the crops we produce for winter. NFTI recently secured a large donation of seed potatoes from a generous Alberta farmer and with the help of many volunteers and Local Food Ambassadors across the NWT, we were able to ship them into communities who needed them. Preparing to store a harvest from this fall throughout the winter will be incredibly important for community local food security and this funding support will help NFTI to implement this and also to teach their current students and share with other communities how it can be done.”

• Kim Rapati, Operations Manager, Northern Farm Training Institute

“We are using the funds to upgrade our kitchen, both to update the appliances and cupboards, but also to become better protective of the environment.  We are purchasing -- among other things -- an industrial dishwasher so we can use ceramic (re-usable) cups and dishes for our homeless meals, rather than using single-use Styrofoam cups and plates. We are also getting new stove and fridge/freezer for better economy and better food storage capability.  All this in the hope of providing better services to the homeless and indigent folks we feed at our centre.”

• Joe Pintarics, Executive Director, Tłı̨chǫ Łeàgı̨ą Tsʾı̨ı̨lı̨ Kǫ

Quick Facts

• With their funds, Łútsël K'é Dene First Nation will build infrastructure and facilities required to run a wild food kitchen in Lutsel K'e. The wild food kitchen would function both as a "community kitchen" were meals using traditional foods can be processed and cooked together. This builds relationships in the community, strengthens women and families and lowers food insecurity. The wild foods used for meals would come from the wild food bank, where other partnering programs and organizations in the community can donate wild meat.
• 362 projects across Canada, totaling $6.6M are being funded through the first round of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, which took place from August to November 2019.
• Applications under the second call for proposals are currently being accepted. Please visit the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website to submit an application.
• The Local Food Infrastructure Fund is part of the Food Policy for Canada, supporting our country in meeting its commitments under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, including to end hunger, promote good health, cut food waste, and encourage sustainable food systems.

Additional Links

Local Food Infrastructure Fund

Food Policy for Canada