Debates of March 10, 2009 (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize an extraordinary constituent. In the past, she has received the Queen’s Jubilee Commemorative Medal for her tireless work on breast cancer awareness and health. I am speaking about Ruby Trudel, who is still very active on community issues.

---Applause

In March 2008 she attended a homelessness forum where various representatives expressed their difficulty in keeping up with increased costs, including food, which were eroding their grant funding. In her desire to help, she focused on providing food for the needy. She, along with her husband, Laurin, approached several local businesses for donations of food that were still edible but about to be thrown out for various reasons. Because of liability concerns, some of these businesses were hesitant to take part.

Her desire to help the homeless and the poor with donations of food led her to research on food wastage and how other jurisdictions were grappling with this issue. She pushed for legislation with the help of our colleague, Ms. Wendy Bisaro. This legislation, the Donation of Food Act, came into effect October 21st, 2008, and the Food Rescue Program was created. There was an explosion of donations from businesses. Food Rescue is a group of volunteers who retrieve food products from warehouses and stores that is considered unsalable by the commercial establishment. Product may be past its best before date or be in a condition that needs refreshing.

In its first 117 days of operation, Food Rescue received 26,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables. The recovery rate has been over 86 percent, meaning that more than 22,000 pounds of perfectly edible fruits and vegetables have been donated to some 15 organizations and saved from the landfill. This is an astounding success and the results are amazing.

In addition, Food Rescue also received more than 4,400 litres of dairy product, 1,000 litres of juice, and 2,300 pounds of meat. The Trudels, along with Grant Pryznyk, Werner and Michelle Klinger, Margaret Henderson, Lorne Schollar, Carol Givson, Toon Pronk spend a lot of their time collecting, sorting, cleaning, and chopping donated food. Chopped food made into applesauce and a number of other creative solutions are donated to shelters, drop-in centres, the Food Bank, and struggling persons identified through word of mouth.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

The benefits of Food Rescue are many. Besides saving the landfill from tonnes of waste, the vegetable trimmings are being composted and cardboard is recycled. Beneficiaries include the Salvation Army, Centre for Northern Families, YWCA Rockhill Apartments and the Alison McAteer House, Yellowknife Food Bank, the SideDoor, the John Howard Society, and the Weledeh School Lunch Program.

Food Rescue not only addresses food access issues of the homeless and the disadvantaged, but also addresses environmental issues by making the maximum use of food products shipped to the North.

This program is being run out of the Trudel home as they have yet to find a suitable location. The Food Rescue Program is an innovative solution that helps the homeless and those in need, and a testament to these volunteers’ continued dedication and commitment.

Please help me to congratulate Ms. Trudel and the Food Rescue Program volunteers on their success. This is a clear demonstration of how one person can make a difference.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 8, written questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to Item 7.

---Unanimous consent granted

Return to item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.