June 15, 1998
To:Board of Health
From:Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Medical Officer of Health
Dr. Harriet Friedmann, Co-chair, Toronto Food Policy Council
Subject:Proposed Mandate and Structure of the Amalgamated Toronto Food Policy Council
Purpose:
To report on the mandate, terms of reference and composition of the amalgamated Toronto Food Policy Council (TFPC).
Source of Funds:
1998 Operating Budget for Public Health.
Recommendations:
(1)That the Board of Health approve the mandate, terms of reference, and composition of the Toronto Food Policy
Council;
(2)That the Board of Health appoint to the Toronto Food Policy Council until November 30, 2000, and until their
successors are appointed:
City Council
-Councillor McConnell
-Councillor Mihevc
From a food policy research network
-Dr. Mustafa Koc, Toronto Food Research Network
From agricultural/rural networks or associations
-Ineke Booy, Ontario Farm Women=s Network
-Vic Daniel, Holstein Canada
From food business/industry associations
-Darryn Sceeles, Canadian Health Food Association
From a community economic development network
-Mike Schreiner, Local Exchange Trading Systems
From health networks
-Sonja Nerad, Association of Ontario Health Centres
-Lee Zaslofsky, Citizens for Public Health
From the food networks
-Cindy Anthony, Food Access Community Task Force of East York (Alternate: Denise Vararoutsos)
-Debbie Field, Toronto Food Access Network
(Alternates: Kathryn Scarfe, Sylvia Kerr)
(3)That the TFPC report to the Board of Health in the fall of 1998, with additional appointments to fill the remaining
positions on the amalgamated TFPC.
(4)That the Board of Health forward this report to City Council for information.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At its meeting of May 12, 1998 the Toronto Board of Health requested that staff review the proposal to establish four
Advisory Committees (Food Policy Council; Animal Services; School Health; and Substance Abuse/Alcohol Advisory)
and report further addressing the following issues:
(a)purpose of each committee (mandate, terms of reference, composition, identification of need)
(b)expected outcomes of each committee
(c)possible duplication or overlap with other ABCs
(d)internal or external committee, and its connection to the Board of Health.
Food Policy Councils have existed in two former municipalities - North York and Toronto. The Toronto Food Policy
Council was created in October 1990 by the former City of Toronto Council. Its mission is to develop a just and
environmentally sustainable food systems for all Torontonians. It is composed of 18 community representatives and 3 City
Councillors. It has been supported by 3 staff FTEs since its creation.
The North York Food Policy Council was created in 1992. It was also structured as a subcommittee of the Board of Health
but did not have dedicated staffing. It was composed of representatives of various sectors, including anti-poverty, faith,
school boards, academic, food industry, nutrition and social services. To be consistent with other Board of Health advisory
committees, it became the North York Food Action Advisory Committee but was never made fully operational, due to
downsizing. Its mandate and composition are contained in Report #4 of the May 12 1998 Board of Health meeting agenda.
Three of its work groups have been functioning, however, including the North York Basic Needs Action Network, the
North York Partners for Child Nutrition, and the Community Food Advisors Steering Committee.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Since the two Food Policy Councils were created, there has been an explosion of community food activity, much of it
facilitated by the existence of these Food Policy Councils. The merging of the seven municipalities offers an opportunity to
link the community organizations and their projects through an amalgamated TFPC.
The mandate, mission statement, goals, and functions of the new TFPC would remain consistent with the mandates of the
previous FPCs:
Mission Statement:
Toronto Food Policy Council will work to develop a just and environmentally sustainable food system for all
Torontonians.
The TFPC's goals are:
(1)To reduce hunger and the need for a charitable food distribution system.
(2)To increase access to sufficient, nutritious, affordable, safe and personally acceptable foods.
(3)To promote equitable food production and distribution systems which are nutritionally and environmentally sound.
Achieving these goals means that food policies must be developed to ensure that food is available, accessible, affordable,
acceptable, and sustainably produced. The TFPC will:
(1)Work with community groups on local food access issues, sharing information, helping with fundraising, and project
development, co-ordinating, consulting, and identifying areas for research based on current issues at the community level.
(2)Review policies and practices of government, private sector and other public agencies and advise the Board of Health
and City Council on social, economic and health policy issues with regard to production, processing, availability, cost, and
waste in the food system, within and beyond the municipality=s boundaries;
(3)Work with other organizations to provide useful educational materials which illustrate the relationships between
existing policy and actions of individuals, government and industry as they affect the food system;
(4)Take leadership in doing policy research on the food system, examining health indicators and actions being taken in
other communities in North America and worldwide which might be applicable to Toronto;
(5)Gather and coordinate information from existing organizations working on food-related issues and communicate this
information to the public through the media as well as to appropriate decision makers.
The number of members will remain at 21, but the composition changes to reflect the situation of the amalgamated city.
The new composition is:
3 City Councillors
1 community representative sitting on the Board of Health (BOH)
1 education representative from a city-wide network on Child Nutrition
1 from a city-wide anti-hunger network
1 from a food policy research network
2 from agricultural/rural networks or associations
1 from food business/industry associations
1 from a community economic development network
1 from a social justice/social policy or housing network
1 from an environmental network
2 from health networks
6 from the food access networks that exist in each of the former municipalities
To be eligible, members must participate in a network that:
(a)has representation from at least 5 different organizations/agencies
(b)operates within the City of Toronto (except for agricultural networks)
(c)is committed to creating food security
(d)has a term for operation that is not time-limited
Members must also:
(a)Live or work within the City of Toronto, except for members with specific expertise, e.g. agriculture.
(b)Have a general understanding of the total food system.
(c)Bring a critical analysis of the food system in relation to one of the following: food production, distribution and
retailing; economic development; access to food and its relationship to health; consumer information systems;
agroecosystem issues; and waste management.
(d)Demonstrate a sincere interest in the development of healthy public policy.
(e)Actively participate in an eligible network
(f)Understand municipal policy making processes
The TFPC is also looking for a balanced membership regarding ethnicity, gender, and age.
Members are selected based on the approach taken by the former Toronto Nominations Committee, but undertaken by the
TFPC's Executive Committee because of the very specific requirements for membership. Members are solicited with
targeted mailings to appropriate networks and groups. Interested parties are asked to submit a resume, and then participate
in an orientation session before finalizing their application. Applicants are reviewed by the Executive Committee and
recommendations taken to the full TFPC. The TFPC selects an individual for a position for recommendation to the Board
of Health and City Council.
The TFPC members are appointed for 3-year terms. The terms of office shall overlap. Members may be re-appointed for a
second 3-year term.
Organization Design
The TFPC operates as a sub-committee of the BOH. Staff are attached administratively to the Public Health Division. It is
co-chaired by one Community representative and one Councillor. Significant TFPC decisions and actions are forwarded to
the Board of Health for consideration. The TFPC collaborates closely with Public Health but takes decisions independently.
Expected Outcomes:
The FPC is at the centre of a network of 300 community agencies, including those involved in school food programs. The
FPC's work makes these groups more self-sustaining by providing training in fundraising, organizational development,
project evaluation (to measure effectiveness), and the latest research. The FPC is also one of the City=s main promoter of
new business start-ups for low-income people wishing to start small enterprises in the food sector.
Three major outcomes are anticipated for the amalgamated TFPC:
(1)Rapid expansion of food access programs in the new City;
(2)Rapid expansion of local food economic development initiatives, including new business start-ups and farmer=s market
revitalization;
(3)Integration of food access principles and strategies into the new Official Plan.
As examples of what is achievable, the former Toronto Food Policy Council:
(1)Started Field to Table in 1992, a non-profit food distribution program that now provides affordable nourishing food to
15,000 low-income Toronto citizens each month, and continues to grow rapidly.
(2)Convinced the provincial government to provide $3 million to student nutrition programs in 1993.
(3)Provided the support needed so that community organizations could start or sustain 10 community gardens, including
sites in schools and on rooftops.
(4)Provided fundraising assistance that allowed community organizations to obtain $3.5 million for projects increasing
people's access to affordable nourishing food.
(5)Organized consumers and agency to successfully delay federal government licensing of Bovine Growth Hormone, a
biotechnology drug used in milk production and suspected of causing health problems in humans and cows.
(6)Convinced governments of the need for a new food processing centre in the Stockyards Industrial District, to retain
industrial jobs and promote environmentally-sound approaches to food processing. This initiative helped to convince
municipalities that small food businesses are an essential part of a job creation strategy
(7)Co-authored the Ontario Public Health Association food and nutrition strategy for the province of Ontario, that would
commit the government to fund programs to improve citizens' access to affordable nutritious food. The provincial
government is considering the strategy as part of its efforts to create a food and nutrition strategy for the province.
(8)Helped create Ontario's first "green" community food program that helps consumers buy food in a way that is better for
their health and environment.
(9)Designed Canada=s first Food Access Grants Program, approved by Toronto City Council in 1995, and then
administered the program 1996-98. A report on the positive impacts of this program was approved by the Board of Health
at its meeting of April 21, 1998.
(10)Initiated a "Buy Ontario"
There is no other committee or agency in the corporation that performs the work of the TFPC.
This report outlines terms of reference for the amalgamated Toronto Food Policy Council, and provides the opportunity for
community organizations in all former municipalities to participate in the work of the amalgamated TFPC.
Dr. Sheela V. BasrurHarriet Friedmann, Ph.D.
