It's official — legislation establishes Food Day in Canada

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Earlier this week, the House of Commons unanimously passed at third reading Senator Rob Black’s bill that seeks to establish a Food Day in Canada, thus ensuring it will become law.

Twenty years after it was established, Food Day Canada officially becomes enshrined in legislation with Bill S-227, an act to establish Food Day in Canada, passing this week in the House of Commons.

The idea of a Food Day Canada was championed in 2003 by the late food journalist and food advocate Anita Stewart when she organized the first Food Day in response to the BSE crisis.

Senator Rob Black introduced and gathered support for the Food Day in Canada bill in the Senate, and then sought out John Nater, member of Parliament for Perth-Wellington, to sponsor the bill in the House of Commons. In passing the legislation, member of both the Senate and the House of Commons paid tribute to Stewart and also highlighted the role played by many stakeholders — from the farm gate to the food plate — in bringing food to Canadians.

“I would like to thank Parliamentarians of all stripes, from both the Senate and the House, for their thoughtful reflections on the role of agriculture from coast to coast to coast,” said Black. “I am delighted that Food Day Canada was passed into law in time for its 20th anniversary. This event will give Canadians an opportunity to thank the farmers who put food on our tables, every summer for years to come.”

The first official Food Day in Canada will be celebrated this year on August 5.

“It is with great satisfaction that we finally reach the end of debate before passing Bill S-227, Food Day in Canada,” said Nater after the legislation was passed. “This summer, 20 years after Anita Stewart organized the first Food Day in response to a national crisis that devastated our beef farmers, Food Day Canada will finally be officially recognized.”

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