The Canadian National Newspaper: Canadian politics: Sovereignty and Food linked to each other

Today I heard that wheat prices have soared. Harvests in two of the world's major production areas, Russia and the Canadian prairies, are seriously threatened this year. It is too wet on our prairies, and too hot and dry in Russia. For those depending on global suppliers, the prices and availability of other grains and related products may also be affected by these and other large scale agricultural disasters.

What do you consider when you answer the daily question, “What am I going to eat?” We might base our choices on enjoyment, convenience, cost, quality, or nutritional value. For some, health or allergy concerns are limiting factors. But do any of us ask, “How is this meal going to enhance or limit the sovereignty of our nation?”

National sovereignty and food sovereignty are closely related. Stephen Harper declared at the G20 in Toronto that there is no longer a Canadian economy. He sees us as merely one cog in the machine of the global economy. This will mean a loss of Canadian sovereignty, he admits, but “...it is a simple reality.” It is not a simple reality for me, and I don't think it should be a simple reality for any Canadian. What can we do to change it?

I think we can counter the desire by global corporations to dominate the world's economy, and the governments and citizens of all nations, by developing and ensuring our own food sovereignty. Food is even more important than money, to protect our national sovereignty. Nothing can bring a nation to its knees quicker than starvation. The half dozen global mega corporations who control most of the world's food supply do not have our best interests at heart. They have one bottom line, and that is profit. Their own profits. Our health and well-being, our self-determination and employment, our food safety and food security, are not on their radar. The protection of our soil, our water quality and availability, and our agricultural land base, are all better served by developing food sovereignty than by allowing ourselves to be tricked into accepting dependence on a mere half dozen mega corporations, including Monsanto and Cargill, for our food.

Our daily food choices add up across the country to determine whether our food will be under our own control, or under the control of the global economy and international corporations. The more we seek out and purchase locally grown vegetables and fruits, grain, breads, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, and Canadian processed food products, the stronger and more diversified our local, Canadian suppliers will become and the more encouraged our potential young farmers and food processors will be. Those local farms and businesses, in our own communities, are desperately needed to provide incomes, employment, and food for Canadians. Diversity, and having many small producers everywhere in Canada, is the real key to food security for Canada.

No country should be ashamed of making decisions that support its own production and distribution, as locally as possible, of its food and other essential goods and services. Canadians need to supply the demands of their own domestic market and meet the needs of their own communities as much as possible. Make the choices you can to encourage this, and pay attention to the choices being made for you by your municipal, provincial, and federal representatives. Let them know that you want a “climate” that facilitates local, not foreign investment. Ask the various levels of government and members of the community to support our citizens to own and operate their own farms and food processing and distribution businesses. Our potential for food sovereignty in Canada is enormous, but we must encourage millions of small producers. That is where real efficiency, stability, and security can be created.

For more information on food sovereignty and related issues, check out The Ram's Horn, by Brewster and Cathleen Kneen, at >www.ramshorn.ca.

Doris Foster has gardened most of her adult life, and supports her local organic farmers and community grain mill. She also supports the Canadian Action Party, which is working to develop policies that will help Canadians to enhance our food sovereignty, save the Canadian small mixed family farm, and make food safety and food sovereignty local community issues all across Canada. For details please visit: www.canadianactionparty.ca

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