Proposal from Senator Rob Black to be studied by Commons agriculture committee. Ottawa—MPs have unanimously supported Ontario Senator Rob Black's bill to have the Saturday of the August long weekend be officially proclaimed as Food Day Canada. The bill, which has already been approved by the Senate, will be reviewed by the Commons agriculture committee in the coming weeks. Food Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the important role of our local farmers, producers and processors, and the roles they play in ensuring Canadians have access to safe, nutritious and affordable foods that Canadians have access to, Black said when speaking about the bill in the Senate. He also paid tribute to Anita Stewart, a great and a founder of Food Day Canada. “Anita was a food activist, a cookbook author and the first Food Laureate at the University of Guelph. She was a champion of local food and the stories behind that food. Sadly, Anita passed away last year at the age of 73 after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer.” Food Day Canada began with her concern for beef farmers during the 2003 BSE, crisis, he said. “That year, she organized what she called the world's longest barbecue, where she invited her network of friends, farmers and chefs to share their recipes using Canadian beef. “Her spirit and passion for Canadian cuisine from coast to coast to coast and the people who grew, harvested and cooked it was unrivalled. Anita was a trailblazer who made a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of our Canadian food system. She will be missed by all who knew her, and her memory lives on in the legacy of her recipes, her family and Food Day Canada.” Black said he hoped that by making Food Day Canada an official celebration, “Canadians for generations to come will have the opportunity not only to learn about the many foods grown and produced in Canada but also about Anita and the way she honoured Canada through food.” The government needs to walk the talk when it comes to the agrifood sector. “The government frequently speaks about its commitment to agriculture, yet the sector never seems to make the cut into their top priorities.” Agriculture is intrinsically connected to many of the government's priority areas such as climate change and the environment, he said. “Farmers are stewards of our land, and they must play a role in our fight against climate change. In fact, farmers often face the brunt of climate change, as Canadian agriculture suffers greatly from the effects. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen our nation come together in support of one another, including in support of Canadian-made food. I have been delighted to see the interest in learning where, how and who grows our food skyrocket in the past months.”