Minister MacAulay announces nearly $10 million in funding to strengthen local food security

From coast to coast, food banks and community organizations provide vital support and services to address local food security needs and increase access to healthy food

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Conestoga, visited the Wilmot Family Resource Centre to announce up to $9.98 million in funding through the fifth phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).

This funding will support up to 192 new community-led projects across the country through investments in equipment and infrastructure needs to help improve the accessibility of nutritious, local food.

 

 “As we continue our efforts to stabilize food prices and bring relief to Canadians, this new funding through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund will help put more healthy, local food on tables right across the country”

 

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. Since it first launched in August 2019, LFIF has committed $64.8 million to support over 1,100 projects to improve food security across Canada, including community gardens and kitchens, refrigerated trucks and storage units for donated food, and greenhouses in remote and Northern communities.

“As we continue our efforts to stabilize food prices and bring relief to Canadians, this new funding through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund will help put more healthy, local food on tables right across the country,” MacAulay stated.

The Government is working to provide relief to Canadians struggling with the increased cost of living. Through the introduction of Bill C-56, the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, and efforts outlined in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the Government will continue to support Canadian families and stabilize food prices.

“In communities of all sizes, we need to continue supporting service organizations aiding families,” added Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Conestoga. “Our federal government’s $23,000 investment empowered the Wilmot Family Resource Centre to acquire a refrigerated van, facilitating free access to locally grown produce for families in need. Given Kitchener–Conestoga’s fertile farmland, ensuring universal access to safe, affordable, locally sourced food is paramount for our community’s health and well-being.”