BC cuts fresh-produce subsidies
March 4, 2010 by Norm Macdonald
Filed under BC news, Community, Food, Government, Health, Safety
Macdonald defends farmers’ market coupon project. BC Liberals cut funding that provided fresh produce to low-income families.
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.”
Victoria
March 4, 2010
Norm Macdonald MLA
Columbia River – Revelstoke
Backgrounder
The farmers’ market coupon program is an initiative of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and was funded by the provincial government through the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
16 communities participated in the 2009 season.
The season lasts 17 weeks (June 30th to October 31st).
1009 families participated in the program in 2008.
Each family receives a $15 coupon to spend at participating farmers’ markets.
Participants also take part in cooking and skill building programs related to purchases.
97% redemption rate in 2008 across the province. Revelstoke had a 100% redemption rate on coupons.
In 2008, the project met outlined goals, and exceeded expectations in some areas.
Benefits:
- Increased access to unprocessed, nutritious, local farm products for low income British Columbians
- Increased nutritional knowledge of participants
- Increased fresh food preparation skills
- Heightened profile of farmers’ markets in local communities
- Participating vendors experienced increased sales
- Increased capacity for food security
Cost for coupons in 2007 was $7000 per community.
A honourarium of $575 is provided to each participating farmers’ market.
Clearly the BC government is not acting in the public interest on this matter. Anyone with their head on straight knows that investing in things that promote good health is way more cost-effective than waiting until people’s health fails and then spending a lot more on medical facilities to fix the unfixable consequences of neglected health.
There are few things more important than good diet in promoting good long-term health. If they spent even a tiny percentage of what they are now paying to expand hospitals, or what they spent on the swine flu show, or what they spent on the Olympics, they would perhaps not even need all those new medical facilities.
I think it’s pretty clear that this government has very little concern about the public interest and is more concerned about its financial buddies and the personal and political benefits that may flow from its actions. This sure does not sound like a democracy to me.
Actually, Mai Kai, you have missed the point completely and again.
Governements are tasked with making decisions as to what would be most cost effective and efficienciy effective to bring the most benefit to the most people.
You and Norm MacDonald feel that we should spend monies on every thing because it is your personal preference. In whatever, topic discussed.
However, a government has to make decisions on the basics of economy, both short and long term, health, education, roads and bridges, jobs, unemployement and finances. And there is the rub.
When you don’t have the cash, you cannot forever go out and borrow monies to fund every thing as the NDP did while in power, They racked up over $ 7,000,000,000 in debt in only 8 years because that is how they ran the province, We are still paying back those monies out of limited revenue and so will our kids for a number of years yet.
The other bad side of that attitude, is this, –while paying out those short rations of cash, we cannot at the same time fund good and worthwhile projects. This is one of the ways, our kids and also ourselves get hurt by that type of ignoring of reality in budgeting. We are still hurting from those decisions.
LIttlle concern for the public interest ??? as you say. I say, again, you missed the boat. Every politician has a desire to make things better for every citizen. Just because some one makes a decision that is different to your perception of what is good does not mean that that politician does not feel for you or me or my neighbour or my friend.
To slur politicians casts a frightening dis service for the thousands of individuals that try to make life better. You are simply saying that Norm MacDonald is just trying to help his cornies and his union buddies.
I don’t think that is the case. He also cares for the average guy and gal. He is never trying to help his buddies and cornies. Is he. He is only trying to help every one have a better life.
Raise your arguments either pro or con on an issue rather than casting slurs Mai Kai. You will become much more effective in any argument or discussion
David R Pacey
BC Liberal President
Columbia Rvier Revelstoke
250 342 1524
David, a sensible government, one that is working for the people, does not spend billions on a big party that it cannot afford (the Olympics) when it can only do so by diverting resources from more essential purposes. So don’t talk to me about “cost effective”. How can anyone read past your second sentence when you make a statement like that?
It is demonstrably cost effective to be pro-active about health care, so you don’t end up paying a lot more later because you neglected preventative health care at the outset.
You say: “When you don’t have the cash, you cannot forever go out and borrow monies to fund every thing”. From that I can only conclude that you think corporate welfare handouts are more important than serving the (whole) public interest.
As for you suggestion that I refrain from “casting slurs” — ask a few strangers to tell you honestly how much they trust government and politicians. Ask those who choose not to vote why they don’t vote. Many will tell you that government is self-serving, elitist and listens mainly to business – except just before an election. So for me to say that the BC government is not serving the public interest is more a statement of the known status quo that any kind of slur. Everyone knows it except you apparently.
Mai Kai. let us take your points one by one if you don’t mind:
1. “Spend billions on a party that we can’t afford ” Billions of dollars injected into your economy with about 1/4 being spent by the federal govenment without the province having to pay that back? Infrastructure legacies as they are called, that will survive my life and yours for our kids and grand kids?
That combination is spectacular and extremely efficient.
2. The current budget being increased far beyond any thing seen in this province on health care alone and about 50 % of the current budget ? I would say that is very proactive and very effective.
3. “Corporate handout”? in a province that has the lowest personal income tax in Canada and the second lowest for corporate taxes in Canada? Is that corporate hand outs ? I don’t think so. I think it is great. It allows money to stay in my pocket and in yours to spend as you and I choose for our own benefit. It is not in the government’s hands at all. It is in yours.
3a. If the Liberals or the NDP chose to tax corporations as the NDP did while in power with Glen Clark and his union leaders, we would again have companies leaving the province, again vast unemployment and again our young people leaving the province just as we did under the NDP to find jobs. The alternative would have us again in a have not province status taking hand out from the rest of Canada. BC a have not a province? Not again but possible with the NDP in power with their current policies.
That is what happens when a governement taxes the bee jesus out of corporations. Like it or not, the partnership between companies, entrepenures and employees is a GREAT thing in this province but when you drive one of those factors from the province, you again have what was called Welfare Valley alias, the Columbia Valley
The BC Liberals don’t ever want to see that happen again and that is the reason prudent fiscal planning and actions are so necessary to the good governence of our province.
4.Casting slurs? yes you did Mai Kai. Sorry, but you did. You are calling every politician down for what is done by a minority during a long gone past history. If that is discovered today?, that person is slapped down tremendously by the government, and the courts these days. Sorry but that is antiquated thinking.
4a. Just because you have a cynical view of governements both Liberal and NDP, Conservative and Green’s does’nt mean that Norm MacDonald is a bad guy and nor is Pat Bell a bad guy. Just the opposite. Both want to help the people of this province to have a better life – each is just working in a different philosophical context.
Yes, MKL, you do slur every one with those comments.
David R Pacey
President of the BC LIberals
Columbia River Revelstoke
Well David, spades are spades. They are not hearts, even if you pretend they are.
Absolutly Mi Kai
The game of cards is a great game of chance and skill however, telling the truth and keeping to the facts is a necessity in life in our valley.
The thing is, good governance is NOT a game. It is very serious business that is there to benefit every one in the most effective manner possible and in the most cost effective manner.
That is part of the reason MLA’s, MP’s, City and village council members are normally recruited from the ranks of those most interested in helping the most number of people.
It really is not a game. It is the single most important methodology of helping this province both for today and into the future. Done right, it develops a climate necessary to encourage growth, jobs, employment and a sense of well being necessary for individuals to lead healthy lives.
The philosophy of the individual might be different, one person to another. Individual, they might have different areas of concern at any particular time in the continum.. But politicians are not in governement to help one particular vocal group or interest group. They are in governments to help the entire province. If a politician is not, then as far I am concerned, they can get out of politics right now. Period Set piece.
David R Pacey
President BC Liberals
Columbia River Revelstoke
250 342 1524