Charlottetown Farmers' Market Repairs

AI summary

Petitioners say that after a Christmas Day fire at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market, talks with Agriculture Canada and L’nuey PEI have not resulted in a long-term lease or repairs, which they say has put vendors’ livelihoods at risk and left a temporary venue in use. They ask the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‑Food to enter meaningful negotiations with the Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq respecting their sovereignty, to support food sovereignty and local food production, and to back fiscally responsible repairs to the existing asset. The submitted material does not include a government response.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Following the fire on Christmas Day at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market, talks with Agriculture Canada and L’nuey PEI have failed to progress to allow the CFM Co-operative to negotiate a long-term lease on federally controlled land and complete repairs to the existing structure; This failure of negotiation is has impacted the vendors (farmers) at the market, putting many of their livelihoods at risk. While a temporary venue is being used as a stop gap it is not feasible for longevity. This failure of action is directly in opposition to the recent national goals of the Government to Canada to support increased food security, food sovereignty and promote local food hubs; and There is an opportunity here for the Government of Canada to work with the Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq in negotiating a solution which promotes and protects the values of all involved. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to: 1. Take action to enter meaningful negotiation with the Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq, in a way that recognizes the need to negotiate with respect for the sovereignty and wisdom of the original people of this country we call Canada; 2. Hold in our attention the importance of making every effort to foster, support and protect food sovereignty, food security and by extension the small footprint of independent local food production; and 3. Support the most fiscally responsible action in this case wherein repairs are made to an existing asset.

Government response

No government response is available yet.