Apparently it seems that some members of council at the City of Toronto believe that gravy comes from locally produced strawberries.
It was reported today in the Toronto Star that the City’s Government Management Committee, a sub-committee of council and made up of council members, failed to recommend to council that a “Buy Local” policy should be institued where appropriate when it comes to food purchases made by the city. With a split 2-2 vote the matter must now go to full council for consideration without a recommendation.
The creation and implementation of a Buy Local food policy when it came to food purchases for such city run facilities such as homes, shelters and day cares was begun under Mayor David Miller but supporters of Mayor Rob Ford say they don’t like the policy if it increases the costs.
“I think we should go out there and get the biggest bang for our buck,” said Councillor Doug Ford. “Yes, everyone wants to support Ontario-based food growers, but sometimes it’s just not realistic.”
While the quest to run a leaner, more efficient and ultimately less expensive government is admirable – especially given the massive shortfall the City of Toronto is expected to have to deal with in the next fiscal budget – sometimes the quest for savings fails to recognize that the right decision isn’t always based on price.
City councillors need to remember that by supporting a strong and vibrant local agricultural sector, they are creating benefits that go beyond simple fiscal savings. While it may be cheaper to buy California produced strawberries than to buy locally produced ones that are now in season, it fails to account for the environmental and economic damage that buying from beyond and shipping across the country creates. Trucking berries and other items across the country causes an increase in carbon emissions and contributes to global climate change. It also hinders our local producers in their ability to remain financially viable at a time when farmers face increasing pressures just to stay solvent. Lastly it reaks of bad optics when the largest municipality in Canada is the same municipality that many of our local farmers will visit for goods, services, entertainment and other needs – thus showing their economic support to the city.
Toronto currently spends about $11 Million annually on food purchases which represents about 1/10 of 1% of the City’s approximately $9.5 Billion budget. While a buy local approach may increase the costs, the net value and benefit of instituting and adhering to a buy local policy would far outweigh any microscopic percentile savings that outsourcing abroad creates.
Mayor Rob Ford and his fellow councillors need to understand that the “gravy” which they so desperately are trying to eliminate can be found in other areas of the budget. To suggest that gravy comes from locally produced strawberries and other food items is incredibly myopic and quite simply – just bad public policy.
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