The TYFPC is looking for new members! Apply by May 12th!

Emma Tamlin

The Toronto Youth Food Policy Council (TYFPC) seeks to engage, build and mobilize youth to accelerate municipal food policy change and co-create a local, sustainable, and just food system in Toronto.

We exist to provide a youth perspective on Toronto’s food community and to provide a unique space for youth to network, support and learn from one another, in order to better participate and innovate the food system around them.

In summary, the  TYFPC exists to Network, Educate and Advocate on behalf of the youth community.

If you are an enthusiastic and motivated youth (age 16-30) who is interested in activating positive change within our food system, consider applying your strengths and skills and submit an application to join the TYFPC!

The deadline to apply is Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 11:59 pm!

Submit an application

Send any questions to info@tyfpc.ca

Parting with Ramada: A Month of Fasting

Emma Tamlin

Parting with Ramadan: A Month of Fasting

By Zartasha Zainab

The month of Ramadan has ended and the Muslim community now commences back to daily routines. This sacred month in which Muslims in Canada and across the world fast from dawn to dusk, where food is distributed freely by donations to the community, where families and friends get together for community iftar parties. A month full of prayers and worship where masajid are filled during the five daily prayers and the night prayers of Taraweeh. During this sacred month, Muslims seek to fulfill a divine obligation of fasting and improve their character by refraining from unnecessary fighting, vulgarity and profanity. They work to better their character, improve their relationships, fulfill social rites and obligations to their families and the larger community and seek to re-connect with their higher purpose by living a life of taqwa (God consciousness) in their daily life. The Qur’an states, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness” (Quran 2:183). It is a month marked by the revelation of the Holy Qur’an and in addition to fasting, it is a month to do abundant dhikr (Quran recitation and remembrance of God) and increase in doing good deeds. 

In contemporary society, oftentimes due to the consistent stereotypes and misrepresentation highlighted in the media as well as the constant violence both locally and internationally we miss out on many positive contributions and achievements. We have seen increased shootings and hate crimes in places of worship as Muslims perform their religious rites during this sacred month both locally and internationally. We are oftentimes not able to reflect on the immense blessing as it robs us of our sense of peace and security. The National Council of Canadian Muslims which works to tackle Islamophobia and is dedicated to promoting the human rights and civil liberties of Canadian Muslims reported various hate crimes including on April 26, 2023, a Black Muslim in Edmontonian leaving Eid Friday Prayer subjected to excessive force, attacks in the Markham Masjid where a man yelled slurs to worshippers and tried to run them over with a car, Muslim women being followed home from the masajid and a gun being pointed at them, vandalism of the Towfiq Islamic Center and so many more incidents within the GTA! (Zhou, 2023). Oftentimes, we miss out on the many positive contributions and achievements of the Muslim community and the purpose of this month. It is my hope that this article will shed light on the true spirit of Ramadan. 

A Month of Abundant Charity

Ramadan is a month in which Muslims increase in giving abundant charity as the rewards of good deeds are believed to increase during this sacred time. Zakah donations are believed to be one of the five pillars of Islam along with shahadah (testimony of faith), salat (obligatory prayers), sawm (fasting from dawn till dusk on prescribed days) and hajj. It literally means ‘to increase’ and technically it means ‘that which purifies’. It includes gold, silver, agricultural produce, livestock earnings and profits from stocks and investments as it liberates from individual greed and selfishness and is a way to maintain peace and harmony. It is mentioned within the Qur’an more than 80 times (ZamZam, 2022). 

This month in Ramadan Project Ramadan, an initiative by Muslim Welfare Canada supported families in need within our local community by fundraising, assembling, and distributing baskets containing staple foods. They worked closely with food banks, women’s shelters and impoverished communities entirely run by volunteers across GTA, Hamilton, Durham Region and Ottawa (Project Ramadan, 2023). 

Local masajid including Pickering Islamic Center, Islamic Foundation of Toronto and others also host regular community Masajid Iftars throughout the month of Ramadan. It is a month full of sharing, community, spirituality and giving. 

A Month of Reflection, Contemplation

Reflection and deep contemplation is a huge part of Ramadan at an individual level. The spirit of Ramadan includes not only the physical aspects of worship but the spiritual ones as well including a sense of submission to the will of Allah (God), engaging in introspection and tazkiyya (purification of the soul). One writer, Hamza Yusuf, translated and commented on the work of Im?m Mawl?d’s Ma?harat al-Qul?b in his novel, ‘Signs, Symptoms and Cures for Spiritual Diseases of the Heart’ looking at spiritual vices including hatred, inequity, envy, stinginess, anger and other spiritual vices and cures. One thing he noted was how this desire for cutthroat competitive behaviours didn’t exist until the impact of massive consumerism and capitalistic values that were focused primarily on exploiting and mass consumption for profits. There was a spirit of giving, generosity and community (Yusuf, 2012). 

The Impact of food waste within our community is numerous! Studies have found that about 50% of the food wasted in the City of Toronto comes from single-family households which are avoidable, including leftovers and untouched food. This is often the result of buying too much, not eating mindfully or not storing food correctly. The cost of food waste is also about $1100 for the average household per year! If you accumulate these amounts and look at the total food wasted in Canada, it is about 2.2 million tons which is equivalent to 9.2 million tons of CO2 and 2.2 million cars on the road! This food waste ends up in landfills and produces greenhouse gases like methane. This methane then traps heat in the ozone layer and contributes to respiratory diseases from smog to air pollution (City of Toronto, 2022). Yet businesses and corporations will produce food based on the amount that is profitable to them and do everything in their power to market and sell their products and follow trends in demand and supply, and consumers will buy more than they need as a result of both marketing tactics and insatiable want resulting in food waste. There is a joint moral responsibility on the part of individual households, policymakers, and business & corporate responsibility in our increasingly capitalist society for the sake of our health,  the health of the next generation and the planet to monitor marketing trends, consumerism in supply and demand chains and equitable distribution of resources.    

The Physical Benefits of Fasting

I discussed how fasting is great for our spiritual well-being, but what about our physical beings? Well, it turns out the benefits of fasting are numerous to our health and well-being as well! Fasting provides several benefits including fat loss, improved blood sugar control, and decreased inflammation and also might provide protection against conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders (Ajmera, 2023). 

However, it is noteworthy that there is an exemption for people who are unable to fast due to health reasons or social constrictions including travel and ways for them to make up the fast by giving charity. 

A Month of Mercy, Forgiveness & Redemption

In the ‘Beginning to the End’ series by Bayyinah Institute, speaker Dr. Omar Suleiman explains the concept of creation starting with the understanding that human beings have very limited perception. Our faculties are limited even as we compare our vision and hearing to other creatures including those of birds, whales, and elephants and touch upon various physical and metaphysical creations mentioned within the Qur’an. How the universe is created in such delicate balance and harmony that not even a leaf falls without God’s knowledge and comprehension and every great and minute matter is recorded. Dr John Linux, he notes, states that the more we know our universe, the greater the hypothesis of there being a creator free of the notion of time, cause and effect and who has to have a will. He further explains the creation of mankind, the throne of Allah, the Pen and the Tablet, divine decree, prophets and messengers and more!

This is a month to truly reflect on our purpose in life both by being introspective and by reflecting on creation around us and to engage in both being true to ourselves, seeking forgiveness for our misdeeds, seeking to better ourselves and to attain mercy, forgiveness, redemption and guidance in our lives by living in peace and harmony within our cosmos. 

In conclusion, the benefits and blessings of fasting, introspection, dhikr (remembrance of God), restraining vices, and contemplation have numerous benefits at the individual, spiritual and communal levels. A lot of achievements include fostering balance and harmony within our ecosystem and universe, being more charitable and helping those who are struggling and increasing self-awareness and God consciousness to contribute to a healthier community. It is unfortunate that hatred, bigotry, prejudice and Islamophobia are growing ever so pervasive within our community and it is my hope we can work to build more harmonized communities and acknowledge the many contributions and achievements by the Muslim community during this month. 

Works Cited

Ajmera, R. (2023, March 13). 8 health benefits of fasting, backed by science. Healthline.   

     Retrieved April 26, 2023, from 

     https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits#inflammation

Beneficiaries. Project Ramadan. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2023, from 

     https://projectramadan.com/beneficiaries/

City of Toronto. (2023, March 14). Food waste. City of Toronto. Retrieved April 26, 2023, 

     from         https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/long-term-waste-strategy/waste-reduction/food-waste/ 

What is zakat? – meaning, importance, who is eligible, and facts. Zamzam Blogs. (2022, 

     June 7). Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://zamzam.com/blog/what-is-zakat/

Yusuf, H. (2012). In Purification of the heart: Signs, symptoms and cures of the spiritual 

    diseases of the heart. essay, Sandala.

Zhou, S. (n.d.). NCCM calls for action after attempted islamophobic attack on TTC. 

    NCCM. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from 

    https://www.nccm.ca/nccm-calls-for-action-after-attempted-islamophobic-attack-on-ttc/ 

Food Inflation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Emma Tamlin

Inflation: An Assessment of Rising Food Prices in Greater Toronto Area

By Zartasha Zainab

If you have noticed that you are paying more while your shopping cart is getting smaller and smaller, you are certainly not imagining it. There are 5.8 million who are struggling with food insecurity. That is 1/6 of households relying on income support. Many Canadians have faced the challenge of seeing a gradual rise in food prices which is gradually becoming difficult to afford. Families are using tactics including price matching, reducing expenditures, relying on community support services or even investing in community urban gardening programs for support. This paper will explore recent studies conducted on understanding food inflation across Toronto and globally. It will look at causes including the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, the pandemic, Canadian-American trade policy, CEOs profiting, higher input costs, and supply chain disruptions. Secondly, it will look at how Canadians are coping with the rising prices including food banks, price matching, selling property, relying on community support and services, and urban farming. The third part will conclude with policy recommendations that are needed to address this crisis effectively and efficiently including providing income support, creating a plan for the ongoing inflation prices and providing support to charitable and support initiatives that are being overburdened.

Part I: Identifying Causes of Food Inflation

   There are several identified causes that are resulting in food inflation in Canada that have been identified including international affairs, mainly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a region that is a major producer of staple foods in the global economy, the pandemic, weather, global affairs, the Biden buy-American policy, CEOs profiting which will be explored.  

Russia-Ukraine Conflict – A Major Distributer of Staple Foods

   The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has taken a toll on global food prices and has resulted in global food inflation hitting developing and emerging economies the hardest. Canada is not exempt from its impact. There is global reliance on the region for fuel and grain imports which could exacerbate political turbulence even further. Ukraine is the world’s largest producer of sunflower oil alongside Russia making it responsible for over half of global exports of vegetable oils. The region also exports over a third of the world’s wheat. There is a major decline in the supply of major staple foods leading to rising food prices. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the global Food Price Index averaged 159.3 points in March 2022 up 17.9 points (12.6%) from February. This is the highest level since its inception in 1990 (Emediegwu, 2022).

   We can see that food insecurity has often resulted in civil conflict throughout the course of history. Anti-government protests are often followed by international food price inflation, bad weather conditions and shrinking farmlands along with unemployment and dissatisfaction with the corrupt political classes. Fragile institutions, political instability and non-diversified economic structures are central factors that couple amplify the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food prices in emerging economies and it is therefore critical to tackle (Emediegwu, 2022).

Pandemic 

   COVID-19 has drastically impacted the food industry which has impacted food prices. These include supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, changes and changes in consumer purchasing patterns amongst other variables. It has resulted in disruption in the supply chain such as processing, packaging and transportation and business closures. Many food purchases made at restaurants have shifted to purchases from stores. Public health measures placed to prevent transmission of COVID-19 also impacted consumer spending patterns. Restaurants were unable to deliver in-person services and opted for take-out options. Sales fell almost 61.3% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Suppliers changed their strategies to cater to buyers in grocery stores as opposed to restaurants. The outbreaks also led to facilities going into temporary closures impacting prices due to processing costs such as higher labour costs due to overtime or additional transportation costs due to moving materials through non-traditional processing sites (Fradella, 2022). 

Weather

   The weather has also impacted food prices impacting the supply chain of many food products and resulting in higher prices. In 2021, the Prairie provinces went through severe heatwave and drought conditions resulting in higher prices for meat (beef) and grain products. Reduced grain meant reduced animal feed making livestock difficult. International heatwaves in agriculture have resulted in elevated costs impacting food imports as well leading to higher costs for meat at grocery stores. The United States, Canada’s major agricultural trading partner has also experienced the worst drought in the last 1200 years due to heatwaves, extreme rainfall and flooding and snap freezing contributing to increased prices of fresh vegetables and fruits in October 2022. Brazil, another major exporter of coffee and sugar experienced a drought causing another rise in costs in 2022 (Fradella, 2022). 

Biden’s “Buy American” Policy

   Biden’s “Buy American” policies have had negative impacts on the Canadian economy as a major trading partner. This includes  $8 Billion in Lumber, $17 Billion for Steel and $500 million in Asphalt contracts all in jeopardy if Biden tightens trade rules. This has resulted in increased manufacturing costs. 

CEO’s profiting

   Members of the Parliament summoned heads of Canada’s largest grocery store chains to answer the question of rising food prices. On Monday, February 13, 2023, the House of Commons committee studying food prices inflation called the CEOs and presidents of Loblaws company, Metro, and the Empire Company Limited which operate chains including Sobeys, Safeway, and FreshCo to attend upcoming meetings. Executives testified to rising costs but not CEOs. MPs have decided to have more meetings aside from just CEOs. Retail Council of Canada which advocates for grocery said they want to call on global brands, manufacturers, processors and wholesalers. Canadians need an analysis of food inflation but this has not yet happened. Metro declined to comment while  Loblaws and Empire Company Limited didn’t immediately respond to the comment. Statistics Canada reports a 10% increase in prices, the fastest pace since 1981. The grocery CEO is making more money than ever before. Bureau said many factors are contributing including the extreme weather, higher input costs, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Supply Chain disruptions. Empire Company Limited said there are global challenges that are increasing the costs of food production and suppliers have no choice but to ask retailers for significant price increases if they are to remain profitable (Djuric, 2023).

   Prices for food products are expected to rise by 11% this year by major chains and are expected to go up by another 5-7% in 2023 after recording the inflation year. Chains including Pepsi are increasing prices by up to 17%  because customers are willing to pay a little bit more for treats and are hiking profits. Loblaws is fixing prices on their brands such as ‘No Name Brand’ because they control the supply chain from start to finish but they cannot control prices for other brands. The debate on prices and profits is far from over (CBC News, 2022).

Part II: Understanding how Canadians are Coping with Food Inflation

  Food inflation has been burdensome for Canadians. There are 5.8 million who are struggling with food insecurity.  People are dealing with the rising prices using a number of tactics such as backyard gardening, price matching, and growing food in the community including providing yard garden harvest projects, and services. Yard sales are a problem many people can be replicating. 

   Providing produce including Broccoli, and cherry tomatoes. A lot of people are making difficult decisions such as relying on community support because people cannot afford food. People are choosing between losing their house or money. People who are working full-time are having difficulty making ends meet. Charities are falling under strain. People can’t just keep relying on prices and people may move out of Canada just for survival needs (CBC News, 2023).

   Prices are set to soar higher. Many Canadians are already shocked and a family of 4 can expect the bill to rise by more than 1000$ meaning 16 288$ annually. People are paying more but getting lesser. New numbers from Canada Food Price Report show 10.3% this year due to geopolitics. All sections of the grocery store due to the invasion of Russia were impacted. The price of lettuce went up by 400% increase. Restaurants are absorbing those costs. Grocers testifying to House of Commons saying they are not rising costs but CEOs of corporations are making profits. They have been accused of price gouging and recording record profits (CTV News, 2022). 

  2023 will be a mirror image of 2022, a slow constricted economy at the beginning of the year and a strong end of the year. We are looking at another recession year. Any recession means jobs will be lost, businesses will suffer. Our labour market is solid. 2022 we say increases in unions, strikes for better worker pay looking for wages, flexibility and going for hybrid work power. Still, with the precarious economy, the balance of power can shift meaning workers who are not as efficient will have to go. In terms of housing, many homeowners will have to negotiate costs with higher interest rates and distress selling. Affordability is a big question and Canada may become a renter nation. The debt levels are increasing with people relying on credit cards trying to get through inflation (CBC News The National, 2022). 

Part III: Policy Implications

Some policy interventions include:

  • Increasing income of low-income households
  • Look at new creative avenues of producing food locally and sustainable agriculture
  • Have a task force that is monitoring the supply chain and consumer purchasing patterns to ensure public awareness and transparency to reduce political turbulence and civil conflict
  • Have population surveys to track invisible homelessness and security
  • Have a program for delivering necessities in low-income communities 
  • Ensuring that food banks and charities are not overburdened with the task of supplying food to low-income and have sufficient support 

In conclusion, there are many ongoing social, political global and environmental forces that are resulting in food inflation and it is critical for the government to address the rising challenge. 

Works Cited

CBC News The National. (2022, December 12). What to expect from inflation, food and housing 

       costs in 2023. YouTube. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from 

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jloDGZzfsu8

CBC News The National. (2022, October 17). High food prices spark questions about grocery 

       chains’ profits. YouTube. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from 

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PIW4cTfm3k

CBC News. (2023, January 20). Creative ways to deal with rising food costs. YouTube. 

       Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_7y62BhfsU

CTV News. (2022, December 6). Your grocery bill could jump by $1,100 in 2023 | Canada 

      inflation. YouTube. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from 

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLu9WiI0ouA

DJuric, M. (2023, February 14). Big grocery store CEOS summoned to testify at committee 

     studying food inflation – national. Global News. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from   

     https://globalnews.ca/news/9486040/big-grocery-ceo-food-inflation-committee

Emediegwu, L. (2022, June 17). How is the war in Ukraine affecting global food prices? 

       Economics Observatory. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from  

    https://www.economicsobservatory.com/how-is-the-war-in-ukraine-affecting-global-food-prices

Fradella, A. (2022, November 16). Behind the Numbers: What’s Causing Growth in Food Prices. 

     Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from 

     https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/62f0014m/62f0014m2022014-eng.htm 

Global News. (2023, February 17). Biden’s “buy American” strategy threatens Canadian 

      economy. YouTube. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from  

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PyNdOWUq2o

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – The Gathering Youth Food Journal Volume 5

Emma Tamlin

The TYFPC’s Education Committee is calling for proposals for the fifth volume of our food journal, The Gathering. This year the theme is “cultivate,” and much like the definition, we are interested in proposals that speak to what we want to sustain, nourish, or grow. What relationships with the land will allow us to cultivate life-affirming futures? As we are a youth-centred food journal, submissions that touch upon this question in a critical, intersectional, and equitably informed way, and highlight food, are encouraged.

Some other questions to consider:

  • What do you hope to cultivate in Toronto’s food landscape?
  • What is currently being cultivated by yourself or others, particularly within your communities and neighbourhoods?
  • Cultivating land requires preparation in order to grow crops, sometimes it means leaving the land as it is. What does land cultivation mean to you?
  • What do you want to see sustained? What do you want to help grow and nourish?

The journal is accepting submissions from youth 30 years old and under. We are especially interested in hearing from Indigenous, Black, and Black-Indigenous youth, and perspectives related to land relationships, land back, food sovereignty, and critiques of the mainstream food sovereignty movement. Papers, poems, personal essays, drawings (creative work that expands the definition of academic writing, such as photovoice) are welcome. We will consider all creative submissions but will ask for a written component to accompany any visual work.

Guidelines: full papers are due May 15, 2022 at 11:59pm EST (word limit: 2000-2500).

For submissions and questions please contact: tyfpc.gathering@gmail.com.

Sincerely, TYFPC’S Education Committee
Gabriella Lippa, Kaitlin Rizarri, Winnie Wang

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The Gathering Youth Food Journal – Volume 5

TYFPC

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Gathering Youth Food Journal Volume 5

Due date: February 4th 2022, 11:59pm EST

The TYFPC’s Education Committee is calling for proposals for the fifth volume of our food journal, The Gathering. This year the theme is “cultivate,” and much like the definition, we are interested in proposals that speak to what we want to sustain, nourish, or grow. What relationships with the land will allow us to cultivate life-affirming futures? As we are a youth-centred food journal, submissions that touch upon this question in a critical, intersectional, and equitably informed way, and highlight food, are encouraged.

Some other questions to consider are the following:

  • What do you hope to cultivate in Toronto’s food landscape?
  • What is currently being cultivated by yourself or others, particularly within your communities and neighbourhoods?
  • Cultivating land requires preparation in order to grow crops, sometimes it means leaving the land as it is. What does land cultivation mean to you?
  • What do you want to see sustained? What do you want to help grow and nourish?
The journal is accepting submissions from youth 30 years old and under. We are especially interested in hearing from Indigenous, Black, and Black-Indigenous youth, and perspectives related to land relationships, land back, food sovereignty, and critiques of the mainstream food sovereignty movement. Papers, poems, personal essays, drawings (creative work that expands the definition of academic writing, such as photovoice) are welcome. We will consider all creative submissions but will ask for a written component to accompany any visual work.

Guidelines: 500 word abstracts due February 4th 2022, 11:59pm EST

Questions, please contact: tyfpc.gathering@gmail.com