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Rising food prices have put pressure on food banks and led to efforts to cut costs by encouraging boycotts of major food retail chains. These strategies maintain the status quo. There needs to be a national debate about whether access to food is a privilege or a right.
Most of the food we eat is imported. Manufactured, processed and sold by private companies. The main objective of the private sector is to maximize the economic profits of the owners. Owners are expected to price their products to maximize revenue.
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This private market system works perfectly, ensuring the interests of the most powerful sectors of the food economy.
In the civilian market, access to food is considered a privilege. Food banks, school feeding programs, and other charities are important, but they serve as a stopgap. They only meet the food needs of a small number of people.
If access to food is considered a right, local governments, with support from state and federal governments, should work directly with local farmers to develop local food access strategies.
In other parts of the world, local food sovereignty initiatives are underway, where local governments work with farmers to meet local needs. These could be studied.
Public debate is important. However, it is local governments who, through their actions, determine whether access to food is a privilege or a right in their communities.
Murray Heidlebaugh (Saskatoon)
Zoning changes could hurt cities
I'm very concerned about the city turning every single-family home, with its underlying R1A zoning, into a 4-plex basically anywhere and everywhere.
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Without strict zoning instructions from Ottawa, we can develop higher density land uses. It may work in Canada's three largest cities, but the changes being considered in just a few months will completely change it and, in my opinion, will leave a permanent scar on the city.
While formal community plans can take more than two years to develop, this change can happen in a matter of months. To get $42 million.
In any case, most citizens are unaware of the impending changes. The letter could be debated before the council considers it in June and at the City Planning Commission this month.
Brad Sylvester, Saskatoon
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