Prince Albert Council of Canadians
Submitted
The Prince Albert Chapter of The Council of Canadians had consecutive events in October. The first was a Slow Food Potluck. The second, in partnership with the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, was Yves Engler’s Left, Right — Marching to the Beat of Imperial Canada book launch.
The Slow Food Potluck at Grace Mennonite Church is an annual event to celebrate World Food Day. This year’s theme was “Zero Hunger.”
Founder and President of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, believes “everyone has the right to good, clean and fair food.” Good is a fresh and flavorsome seasonal diet that satisfies the senses and is part of local culture. Clean is food production and consumption that does not harm the environment, animal welfare, or our health. Fair is accessible prices for consumers and fair conditions and pay for small-scale producers.
Lillis Lawrence, guest speaker from the Prince Albert Food Coalition, presented an overview of the 2018-2019 focuses; food waste, education, and policy. Lawrence emphasized, “Any food donor, including individuals, stores and restaurants, is protected by The Donation of Food Act, 1995 which is similar to the Good Samaritan Act. The Act says that if you are acting in good faith and the food is fit for human consumption you are not liable.”
Lawrence announced the next Food Coalition meeting is Wednesday November 14 at 1-3 pm at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library. Also, their great Fall Food Fair, an educational event, is a week later on November 21 from 4:30-7:30 pm at Parkland Hall. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the Fair and its free meal.
At his Left, Right book launch, author Yves Engler said he started to question Canada’s foreign policy in 2004 when Canada supported overthrowing a democratically elected government in Haiti. Dubbed “Canada’s version of Noam Chomsky,” Yves challenges us to confront Canada’s support of imperialism. His research shows that the left has often supported agendas originating from the United States and corporations. Among the questions that must be asked are “Is the Venezuelan ‘humanitarian crisis’ due to its elected ‘revolutionary’ president or the effect of severe sanctions from Canada, the United States, and other countries?” To find the answers to these and other questions, Engler says that Canada needs an independent foreign policy focused think tank institute.
Upcoming advocacy events for the PA Council are exploring “Pharmacare 2020” on Tuesday November 27. This research-based report presents a clear and coherent vision of Pharmacare for Canada -– a public drug plan that is universal, comprehensive, evidence-based and sustainable. Then, on Monday December 10, International Human Rights Day, they will host a Write for Rights event. It is a come-and-go opportunity to write a letter on behalf of human rights defenders, prisoners of conscience, torture survivors, and others at risk. Both events are at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library at 7 pm.
For more information on the PA Council or its events visit www.facebook.com/councilofcanadiansprincealbert/.
