The Government of Canada is committed to helping communities invest in infrastructure that will improve their food security and increase access to healthy, nutritious and ideally local foods for families in need.

"In Canada, no one should have to go hungry. The support announced today, through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, will help the Alliance Alimentaire Papineau enhance its food programs and improve food security in the region. Expanding its community harvesting program will increase access to healthy food from local producers and a new community garden will allow the most vulnerable to learn new skills and feed their families. Our Government is also more than doubling the funding for projects this year and launched a new intake of applications so more communities can make meaningful improvements to increase access to healthy food for families in need."

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"Alliance Alimentaire Papineau provides vital resources to the community, including important food services for seniors. This support will allow the Alliance to further enhance its offerings to increase access to safe and healthy food for those who need it most in our region."

- Stéphane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation

"The Local Food Infrastructure Fund has allowed Alliance Alimentaire Papineau to acquire a van and a washing room, which will improve our capacity to recover the region's agricultural surplus. Together with Breakfast Club of Canada, this will allow us to deliver hundreds of breakfasts each day to several schools in the RCM. This fund allows us to ensure greater food security in the region and to actively participate in the food autonomy of Papineau RCM residents."

- Florent Trussard, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Alliance Alimentaire Papineau

• According to Statistics Canada, one in seven Canadians indicated that they live in a household where there was food insecurity over a one-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The Local Food Infrastructure Fund launched in August 2019 under the Food Policy for Canada, a roadmap for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada.

• The $10 million top-up for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) is part of the additional $140 million outlined in Budget 2021 to help emergency hunger relief organizations prevent hunger, strengthen food security in our communities, and provide nutritious food to more Canadians.

• Applications for the new LFIF intake will be accepted until August 13, 2021, depending on funding availability. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations that have been in operation for at least two years, or Indigenous groups. For more information and to apply, visit the Local Food Infrastructure Fund website.

• The Government of Canada is also delivering the $200-million Emergency Food Security Fund by providing funding to national and regional organizations, which in turn support food banks and local food organizations across Canada to help improve access to food for people experiencing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Alliance Alimentaire Papineau's mission is to provide the community with tools to better feed themselves in order to develop their food autonomy and their power to act. The Alliance estimates that its gleaning program supports the collection of more than 3,000 pounds of food annually, which is provided to families in need during collective kitchen activities and culinary workshops.

• In 2019, the Alliance Alimentaire Papineau also received $19,125 under the first LFIF intake to build a multipurpose station to improve the conditions for gleaning fruit and vegetables from agricultural producers and to acquire equipment for its community kitchen.

Associated links

• Local Food Infrastructure Fund
• Food Policy for Canada
• Emergency Food Security Fund
• Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth and Resilience

Oliver Anderson
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
oliver.anderson@agr.gc.ca
613-462-4327

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