Issue 114 – 26, August 9, 2026
Why We Need a Better Food Security Strategy in Canada
Recently, the Canadian government released a new plan called the National Food Security Strategy. This plan is meant to make our food system stronger. It focuses on growing more food at home, improving food processing, and making supply chains more reliable. These are good ideas because they can help ensure that Canadians have enough food now and in the future.
However, just making the food system stronger isn’t enough. We still need to focus on the most important problem, many families in Canada do not have enough money to buy healthy food. This problem is called household food insecurity. It happens when people don’t earn enough income, whether from jobs or government support, to buy the food they need.
Right now, about one in four Canadian seniors, and one in three children are struggling with food insecurity. This means they worry about running out of food, skip meals, or buy cheaper less healthy food. Food insecurity hits certain groups the hardest, like Indigenous communities, Black and racialized communities, people with disabilities, single-parent families, and those living in remote or northern areas. These groups face extra barriers that make it harder to get enough nutritious food.
Canada needs a complete approach to food security. We must not only grow more food and improve supply chains but also make sure that everyone has enough money to buy healthy food. Investing in people, supporting small farms, and encouraging competition are key steps to making sure that all Canadians can access affordable, nutritious food now and in the future.
The new government strategy talks about fixing the “root causes” of food insecurity, which means the main reasons why it happens. Many experts, including food security organizations and researchers, say the most important cause is low income. They have told the government that helping people earn enough money is the key to fixing the problem.
Unfortunately, the current plan doesn’t include enough measures to reduce household food insecurity directly. It talks about producing more food and making the food system more resilient, but it doesn’t set clear goals or timelines to help families with their food and income problems. For example, recent programs like the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit help some families, but they are not enough to fix the bigger problem.
We believe that if families don’t have enough money, no matter how strong or efficient our food system is, they will still struggle to buy healthy food. That’s why we need policies that focus on increasing incomes, reducing poverty, and making sure everyone can afford food.
The strategy also talks about supporting Indigenous food systems. Indigenous peoples have their own ways of growing and harvesting food that are connected to their culture and land. To truly support Indigenous food sovereignty, the government needs to invest in Indigenous-led solutions, including access to land and resources.
Another problem is that big companies control much of the food supply in Canada. This makes it hard for small farmers and independent grocery stores to compete. When a few large companies dominate, prices can go up, and it’s harder for new businesses to start. That’s why we need more competition and better policies to support small farmers, local food businesses, and rural communities.
To make food more affordable and accessible, the government is also working on other solutions. These include building food terminals and food hubs that help farmers and small stores get fresh food more easily and at lower costs. They are also investing in new technology and innovations, like indoor farms and smart farming tools, to grow more food in Canada, even in winter or in remote areas.
Make sure that everyone has enough money to buy healthy food, investing in people, supporting small farms, and encouraging competition, including public ownership options, are key steps to making sure that all Canadians can access affordable, nutritious food now and in the future.
Read more - National Food Security Strategy - agriculture.canada.ca
Canadians want to Age Well at Home
A lot of older adults in Canada want to stay in their homes for as long as they can. As more people get older, it becomes very important to find ways to help them live happily, safely, and independently at home. By the year 2050, one out of every four Canadians will be 65 or older, and the number of people over 85 will be three times bigger than it is today. This means more research is needed to find solutions that support older adults.
Researchers are working hard to find ways to make this happen, to help older people stay healthy, happy, and connected to their communities. A group of university researchers from Queen’s University and other schools are studying a special program called Oasis. Oasis helps older adults live in their communities and do fun activities like exercise, arts, games, and learning new things.
Oasis is a program designed by and for older adults. It takes place in places where many seniors already live, like apartment buildings or neighborhoods. The idea is to create activities that fit what older adults want to do, such as exercise classes, arts and crafts, playing games, or sharing meals. An on-site coordinator helps organize these activities, and volunteers, including students, support the program. The goal is to help older adults feel less lonely, stay active, and enjoy their community.
Research shows that programs like Oasis can help older adults stay healthier and happier. They may also use fewer health services because they are more active and engaged. The government of Canada has invested over $2.5 million to help expand Oasis and study how well it works. The money is part of a larger plan to support social sciences and humanities research in Canada.
With this funding, researchers will work with many communities, organizations, and even people from other countries to learn more about aging at home. They will listen to what older adults want and need. They will also train students and future researchers to continue this work. The goal is to make aging in place a common and easy choice for everyone.
Queen’s researchers are studying Oasis in many ways. They are asking questions through surveys, interviews, and social network analysis to understand how the program helps older adults. They also work with community partners, housing providers, and local governments to learn what works best and how to improve. This research is shared with other parts of Canada and even with international partners in the U.K.
This research and funding are helping to create a future where older adults can enjoy their lives at home and in their communities for as long as they want. It’s about making aging easier and happier for everyone.
Since 2011, Oasis started in Kingston, Ontario, where older adults living in an apartment building partnered with the local Council on Aging. This project was successful and helped many seniors stay healthy and connected. Over the years, Oasis has expanded to 23 different communities across Canada, including places like Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Oasis is a community-led program created by and for older adults. It takes place in places where many seniors already live, like apartment buildings and neighborhoods called Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). In Kingston, the program began in an apartment building, and now it’s in many other cities, reaching diverse groups of older adults, including those with different cultural backgrounds and living situations. In Thunder Bay, community members took part in a flower arranging workshop as part of Oasis activities. The program offers activities based on what older adults want, such as exercise classes, arts and crafts, playing games, or sharing meals together. An on-site coordinator helps plan and run these activities, and volunteers, including students, support the programs.
All this work helps create strategies that communities and governments can use to support aging Canadians better.
The project also trains students and new researchers in fields like aging, housing, and community planning. This helps prepare the next generation of experts to find innovative solutions for aging in place.
The main goal is to make aging at home the normal way of life for Canadians. By expanding programs like Oasis and sharing what they learn, the hope is that more seniors will enjoy healthy, active, and connected lives in their communities for many years to come.
Read more - Oasis Research | Oasis Aging Well