On April 13, 2010, a group of proposed members came together to discuss the establishment of a Regional Food Policy Working Group, its role, and what it might do. The group would be supported by CR-FAIR and involve the participation of a wide range of experts in the area food security, food sustainability, food production, health, law and research. The purpose of the Working Group is to bring together cross sectoral expertise tosupport local and regional governments in their role to plan and implement policy and programs related to the regional food and agriculture system.
Key Activities:
- Promote a food strategy within the CRD Sustainability Planning Framework: work with CRD Senior Planning Staff to establish an engagement process and undertake the development of a regional food strategy.
- Provide engagement and input in Municipal OCP processes
- Provide engagement and input into specific related planning/and policy development processes as requested (Agriculture Area Planning, VIHA Community Food Action Initiative)
- Produce Policy and Planning Briefs: create, review and distribute a series of policy and planning briefs on current topics that challenge or support greater regional food sustainability. This work would draw both from existing information, or partner with groups and organizations, student research projects to undertake research on key topics.
- Compile an inventory of policies and planning tools used in the region-to be made available and shared with CRD, member municipalities, non-profit agencies and food-related advisory committees.
- Deliver workshops for local government, planning staff: Undertake a series of workshops to support municipal and regional planning staff augment understanding of food and agriculture issues from a planning perspective as well as highlight planning tools and models available. These workshops will look to link with accreditation from the Planning Institute of BC.
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