Senate adopts Food Day in Canada Act

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Canada’s Senate has adopted a bill introduced by Senator Rob Black in November to recognize the Saturday of the August long weekend as Food Day in Canada each year.

Food Day Canada is an annual celebration founded in 2003 by late Elora resident Anita Stewart in response to a mad cow disease scare.

Stewart, who died in 2020, wanted to encourage Canadians to buy, cook and eat food raised and grown in Canada.

Black previously told the Advertiser the bill would not only recognize Stewart’s efforts, but also “acknowledge and recognize the work of agriculture and food processors, farmers, fishers, in the industry in providing food for Canadians three times a day, 365 days of the year.”

The Food Day in Canada Act underwent its third reading in the Senate on May 12.

Speaking in the Red Chamber that Thursday, Senator Pat Duncan thanked Black “for his tireless efforts to celebrate Canadian farmers and all that agriculture means to our country.”

Black took to social media to express his thanks to fellow senators and the agricultural community at large for supporting the bill, stating he was “delighted.”

Having been adopted in the Senate, the bill will advance to the House of Commons for consideration by parliamentarians before it can receive royal assent and become law.