March 4, 2010

Macdonald defends Farmers’ Market Coupon project; BC Liberals cut funding that provided fresh produce to low-income families

VICTORIA – In his response to the budget speech yesterday, Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald spoke out in support of an innovative program that has been slashed by the BC Liberal budget.

“The Farmers’ Market Coupon project was a great idea that provided fresh fruits and vegetables to food bank users, supporting healthy eating habits as well as local farmers.  It was a win-win situation,” said Macdonald.

The program which operated in 16 communities, including Revelstoke and Nelson, increased access to high quality food for low-income residents, supported local food growers and assisted communities in developing food security.

“This program is exactly the direction we should be moving in as a society.  We should be promoting healthy food choices and developing our capacity to provide local foods to our communities.

“This program had measurably positive outcomes at a very low cost, and cutting the program at this point doesn’t make any kind of sense.”

Supporting local food producers and providing opportunities for access to local foods has been priority for Macdonald since his election in 2005.

“I feel strongly that we have to protect and promote local food growers and this program was a way to bring together two compatible aims; feeding children healthy food and increasing local food security. 

“It is just this kind of backward thinking on the part of this government that is so out of step with the beliefs of the residents of this area.”