NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA FOOD COUNCIL
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The Orillia Food Council is hosting an All-Candidates Forum for candidates running in the June 7 provincial election in the riding of Simcoe North.
Titled Prioritizing Food, the event will take place in Room OA2014 at Lakehead University on Tuesday (May 22). The doors open at 6:30 and the event runs until 9pm.
The Orillia Food Council believes there must be collaboration between citizens and all levels of government in order to invoke systemic change. Elected provincial officials are well positioned to positively affect the lives of millions of Ontarians through working towards food security.
Continuing programs such as the Basic Income Pilot and the $15 minimum wage increase will result in lower health care spending and an increase in the standard of living for all. Evidence clearly shows that higher incomes result in more access to nutritious food and greatly improved health outcomes. Provincial ministries, including agriculture and education, have the potential to vastly reduce existing barriers to healthy food production and consumption.
Access to nutritious food must be recognized as a basic right in Ontario in order to ensure that all people are equally able to be physically and mentally healthy.
The 2018 election is an opportunity for politicians to communicate to the public their views on healthy food access, and for voters to choose leaders who prioritize food.
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