24. Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks: Municipal Food Policy Scan and Budget Analysis

Project Description

Note: This project will mostly take place online (Zoom) and by phone, with possibility of in-person meetings

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

In June 2022, Vancouver City Council approved the 2023-2026 Capital Plan, which includes very limited funding for food systems infrastructure. City Council will be reviewing the proposed 2023 Operations Plan in December 2022, which is another opportunity to advocate for funding for municipal food systems work. Both the municipal Operations and Capital funding context for food security initiatives and infrastructure is severely limited given the growing need for improved food security in our city. Funding for municipal food systems remains extremely low, a percentage of one percent (even less) of total city budget allocations. This does not match the urgency of existing, increasing, and potential food crises driven by climate change, inflation, inequities, pandemics, etc.. The upcoming municipal election, and incoming new City Council, are opportunities to advocate for better resourcing for urban food systems work and VNFNs are looking for support in leveraging these opportunities.

We have been advised to articulate the connection between funding requests/advocacy work to existing municipal policies. Making these connections clear and explicit increases the likelihood that such requests will be successful. We recognize that food and food security intersects with almost all City policy, whether these documents are obviously food-focused or not. Financial support is critical for improving food security and food justice work in our communities, and we need to build a case(s) for support based on existing City directions and priorities. Anecdotally, we have noticed that while food is discussed in many important city policies, such as the new Vancouver Plan, Broadway Plan, Healthy Cities Strategy, Resilient Vancouver Strategy and many more, there is very little direct or even indirect funds allocated.

LFS 350 students will support our work by scanning municipal policy documents such as: Vancouver Food Strategy Reheat (2017), Local Food Systems Action Plan (2021), VanPlay (2020), Vancouver Plan (2022), and other non-food-specific policy documents/frameworks. Students will be looking for specific budgetary commitments, as well as policy commitments that do not appear supported by financial commitments, since both are significant for our purposes.

If time permits:

Students can also help VNFNs map out how the budgeting process for both Operations and Capital works. Who makes decisions on money allocations? What kind of opportunities, if any, are there for public submissions? Understanding these processes would be extremely helpful in identifying opportunities to advocate and intervene in budgetary conversations.

Main Project Activities and Deliverables

• Students will work with community partner to identify relevant municipal policy documents
• Students will scan policy documents for references to food systems infrastructure and/or programming, especially references connected to budgetary commitments (or notably absent commitments)
• Students' policy scan findings will be summarized in a format to be determined by the partner and students (e.g. report, infographic, other)
• If time permits: students will help map the respective budgeting processes for the municipal Capital and Operations Plans, including key opportunities for intervention
• If time permits: students will complete a literature review or compile case studies of budget-focused advocacy work similar to the goals of this project (format to be discussed with partner)

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Familiarity with policy
• Interest in policy and planning

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• Students may attend relevant community meetings (dates and topics to be discussed with partner)
• Attending the Vancouver Food Security Town Hall (tentatively Sept. 27, 6:30pm, TBC) will help students contextualize their project work

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

• No

How much self-direction is expected from the students?

• Deciding on the project deliverables: Mostly led by community partner with some student input
• Developing the activity plan and timeline: Mostly led by students with some community partner input
• Scheduling and initiating the communications plan: Equal leadership between community partner and students
• Implementing the activity plan: Mostly led by students with some support from community partner
• Finalizing deliverables: Equal leadership between community partner and students (with the students determining their capacity but with partners' assessment of complexity of work, available resources, etc.)

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Flexible

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

• Attending and volunteering with the the food security Town Hall will help students contextualize their project work

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review the following materials prior to the first partner meeting. Additional orientation materials may be provided at the first partner meeting.

• Students should familiarize themselves with the VNFN website
• We can make some VNFN and other background documentation available
• Vancouver Food Charter (2007)

Additional Resources

• Vancouver Food Strategy (2013)
• Vancouver Food Strategy Progress Report and Action Plan Update (2017)
• Local Food Systems Action Plan Update (2021)
• Urban Farming in Vancouver (2022)