Abstract

In Canada, the jurisdictional authority of local governments over their food system is currently very limited yet communities are directly faced with the consequences of food system issues. As a service provider, local governments have the power to educate, support local initiatives, and enact policies that can shape food systems. Until recently food system considerations had been largely absent from municipal planning yet the field of food system planning is emerging to integrate food system considerations into community planning processes. In Canada, most efforts to document local-governance food system planning have focused on larger, often urban communities. However, producers who live and produce food in small rural communities conduct the majority of Canada’s agricultural activities. Using case-study research, this thesis documents how the two small rural communities of Saint-Camille (Québec) and Salt Spring Island (British Columbia) engage in food system planning. By investigating the background, key achievements, barriers and best practices of these communities, the case studies inform a comparative analysis of governance planning processes, project development and community led initiatives. Analyzing these findings from the perspective of the Food Sovereignty concept revealed that Food Sovereignty aspirations were present in food system planning activities of Saint-Camille and Salt Spring Island. Based on case study findings, I developed a Food Sovereignty assessment framework that identified indicators, key considerations, resources and examples for the development and implementation of a Food Sovereignty assessment framework and action plan for local governments. This thesis is thus situated in the overlap between food system planning theory and practice, a relatively new concern for local governments, and Food Sovereignty, a radical concept with a growing body of literature. I discern this space as Food Sovereignty Planning, which I define as the integration of Food Sovereignty principles into policies, plans, and programming at all levels of governance.