City of Powell River staff members have been directed to write a letter of support to BC’s minister of health in support of funding for BC Association of Farmers’ Markets’ nutrition coupon program in 2025 and beyond.
At the February 18 committee of the whole meeting, councillors reviewed correspondence from the association, which asked for support to secure ongoing funding from the program.
According to the correspondence, in 2024, lower income qathet region residents redeemed $31,341 with vendors at Powell River Farmers’ Market through the program. Eighty-four lower income households benefitted from better access to local, fresh foods, the correspondence stated.
City councillor Cindy Elliott said the farmers’ markets association was asking the city to write a letter of support to minister of health Josie Osborne.
“The farmers’ market is incredibly popular here in our community and it’s had funding from the ministry in the past,” said Elliott. “It would be incumbent upon the council to ask the mayor to sign a letter of support for the BC farmers’ market program.”
Councillor Earl Almeida suggested the statistics shared in the letter be shared in the correspondence to the minister.
Councillor George Doubt said he fully supported writing a letter to the minister, and that people should be thinking about ways to build and strengthen the program.
“We are going to be seeing awfully expensive cucumbers from California and oranges from Florida if we don’t do something to get alternate supplies,” said Doubt. “I’m in favour of this but I think we need to do more.”
Councillor Trina Isakson said the motion hits on two points. One is the support for people in vulnerable situations to have some food choices, and to get fresh, local, healthy food is fantastic. She said it also supports local farmers, who are also often not raking in the dough.
Councillor and committee chair Rob Southcott said this is not a new program and it has been supported for many years.
“It’s an amazing program,” said Southcott. “It supports people who are not going to get great food and it also supports local farmers. I absolutely support this motion.”
The motion passed unanimously.
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