After a long winter, spring is here. And with spring comes some exciting news! We’ve been working hard over the past few months to redesign our website and are proud to share with you the new look. Here is what’s changed:

Our new homepage highlights who we are, what we do, our social media pages, and features the latest posts from our blog.

The new Who We Are pages tell the story of how we got started, our accomplishments, committee structure, anti-oppression policy, and questions we get asked often.

The new What We Do section is where you’ll find information on community meetings, the youth food journal, advocacy toolkit, research and food policy briefings, past editions of the newsletter, and our blog.

The updated Food Issues section provides information on issues such as cultural awareness, food literacy in education, food waste, growing urban agriculture, urban food security, and industrial agriculture.

The updated Youth Food Movement page lists what we’re all about – youth and food!

And finally, our updated Contact Us page contains bios of this year’s team as well as our contact information.

As with anything new, there are still some details to sort out. If you find something that just isn’t right, email our web team at info@tyfpc.ca and we’ll get it fixed. We’re also open to feedback, comments, and suggestions for things you’d like to see featured on our site. So shoot us an email, get in touch, and let us know what you think!

The Toronto Youth Food Policy Council (TYFPC) is in full support and in solidarity with CUPE 3903 and 3902 who are currently on strike for affordable and quality education for all, an equitable work environment, and job security. We understand these strikes to be symptomatic of a larger economic climate that squeezes labour into the smallest fraction of a dollar in order to maximize profit and control at the expense of human rights. Under the current system, 3903 and 3902 members, made up of mostly students, live precariously on wages that are below the poverty line and lack job security.

We are concerned with the broader context of high youth unemployment, precarious work conditions and poverty. Toronto’s youth unemployment rate is 18.1%, the worst of any region in the province. Furthermore, 31% of youth live in poverty. Poverty is an important determinant in the ability of individuals to access food. In 2013, the Ontario Association of Food Banks reported that post-secondary students were among the fastest growing users of food banks in Ontario. Student hunger remains a hidden issue and poverty is seen as an acceptable condition to endure in exchange for a post-secondary education.

We are also concerned with the worker’s rights in other fields including, but not limited to, farmers, migrant labourers and food service workers who are often working extended hours for low wages in precarious conditions. We believe that all people deserve a living wage and stable employment.

Who can vote? Where? How?

All of this information is answered on the City of Toronto elections website.

How do I learn about the candidates?

Colour of Change Colour of Poverty’s Racial Justice Report Card.

Women in Toronto Politics Position Primer.

ArtsVote Report Card.

What can I ask my candidates about food?

Sustain Ontario’s Vote ON Food & Farming Municipal Elections Toolkit.

Toronto Food Policy Council’s Election Primer.