ELORA – An Act to proclaim Food Day Canada in Ontario passed second reading in the Legislature on Feb. 20.
That has Elora’s Anita Stewart excited and energized for what it could mean for agriculture and culinary tourism in this region, in the province and across Canada.
“Everyone supported it,” Stewart said in a phone interview a day after the private member’s bill went through Question Period at Queen’s Park.
“And everyone was there – Restaurant Canada, Ontario Pork, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the egg people… It just shows that culinary tourism is becoming increasingly important.”
Bill 163 2019, Food Day Ontario (Food Day Canada in Ontario), was introduced by rookie MP Vincent Ke (Don Valley North) in December and is making its way through the process.
It now goes to committee for debate and then returns to the Legislature for third reading and, hopefully, royal assent.
Stewart said she is delighted with the progress so far.
“This is Vincent Ke’s first year as an MP and he hit it out of the park,” Stewart said.
“Private members’ bills usually languish but he’s going to get it through.”
Stewart, a gastronomist, devoted foodie, cookbook and food author, initiated what was then called The World’s Longest Barbecue in 2003 when the mad cow disease scare had a devastating impact on beef farmers, particularly in Alberta.
Her idea was to encourage Canadians to throw some Canadian beef on their barbecues as they enjoyed the long Civic Holiday weekend at the beginning of August.
It was a notion that took off and continues to gain traction, she said.
This bill “honours our farmers, chefs, fishermen, researchers and home cooks … and is also a great opportunity to showcase Ontario’s agriculture products to the rest of Canada and the world,” reads the preamble to the bill.
Food diversity
Stewart said the CN Tower and Niagara Falls already use red and white lights to mark the day and she hopes for more illuminated landmarks if the bill passes.
“It will open the gate to get more people involved,” she said.
“There’s such great food diversity in this country and it needs to be celebrated.”
