It’s just a few more days until election day and mayoral candidates are still sharing what they would implement if elected mayor. Don Woodstock wants to tackle food insecurity in the city by developing an indoor vertical farming network and providing support to food banks and other charitable organizations. “Food is not a luxury, nor is it something our citizens should only have reliable access to during the warm summer months. In a city as resilient as Winnipeg, no family, senior, or child should ever go to bed hungry simply because the thermometer drops below freezing,” Woodstock said in a news release. Woodstock’s plan would cost a total of $5 million a year. It would start with $1 million being used for four indoor vertical farming hubs—one for each quadrant of the city. These would allow for fresh food to be grown year-round, and Woodstock would put them in vacant warehouses, underutilized space, or “strategic commercial leases.” He also plans on providing organizations with grants for things like community gardens and cold storage, while providing larger funding amounts for food security organizations so they don’t have to worry about financial uncertainty. Woodstock would also look at charitable tax credit pass-throughs and municipal corporate incentives to make it easier for companies to help fight food insecurity. “This policy is about restoring dignity, community, and basic human decency to every neighbourhood in our city. By taking control of our own food supply 365 days a year, we are choosing humanity over bureaucracy and ensuring that we take care of one another, no matter how cold the winter gets.” Winnipeggers head to the polls on Wednesday. Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
