MONTREAL, March 25, 2025 — Food Secure Canada is thrilled to announce the launch of its Eat Think Vote campaign for the federal election.
A November 2024 Abacus poll found that grocery prices are the number one economic concern for Canadians going into an election year. At the same time, food insecurity levels in Canada have never been this bad: 1 out of 4 households were food insecure in 2023. This is a national crisis. Recent threats by the US government raise the stakes even higher.
Food is already a top priority for Canadians–the time has come to make it an election issue. That’s why Food Secure Canada is organizing a national campaign to make food sovereignty a priority for the 2025 federal election. Food sovereignty is when communities can shape their own food systems. Without food sovereignty, there can be no national sovereignty.
Eat Think Vote brings community members and federal candidates together to discuss Canada’s most pressing food issues. Local organizations host events in their electoral districts, inviting candidates and community members to participate in direct dialogue. This non-partisan approach connects food movement advocates with federal representatives while elevating food issues to national attention.
Since launching Eat Think Vote in 2015, Food Secure Canada has mobilized over 11,000 Canadians and 300 organizations nationwide. The campaign has engaged 380+ federal candidates—78 of whom were elected—and helped secure major policy wins, including the Food Policy for Canada in 2019 and the National School Food Policy in 2024. This is our fourth campaign, and the timing is critical to push forward the change Canada needs to address poverty, grocery prices, and threats to its stability.
“Food insecurity in Canada has hit crisis levels. Grocery prices and poverty are rising, while trade vulnerabilities and corporate concentration put us at even greater risk. Through Eat Think Vote, communities across Canada are mobilizing to make food an election issue. Food sovereignty has never been more urgent for our country’s future.” — Marissa Alexander, Co-Executive Director of Food Secure Canada
Food sovereignty is at the heart of this campaign’s priorities. Food Secure Canada is proposing a slate of ten “ingredients” to achieve food sovereignty in Canada. These include tackling poverty; implementing universal school food; protecting and expanding Canadian supply management; fostering a resilient local food system; addressing corporate power; advancing Black and Indigenous food sovereignty; and ensuring decent work across the food chain. Together, these policies are a recipe for a food system that can withstand shocks and support Canada’s resilience.
Eat Think Vote events will take place in community spaces, farmers markets, healthcare centres, and schools nationwide. These local gatherings give Canadians direct access to candidates while pushing the next government to deliver affordable, healthy food for all.
Press and the public are welcome to attend any Eat Think Vote event by communicating with the event organizers available here. Follow along on social media with the hashtag #EatThinkVote, or on Facebook @foodsecurecanada, Instagram @FSCRAD, and Twitter @FoodSecureCAN. More information on this campaign can be found at www.eatthinkvote.ca
About Food Secure Canada:
Food Secure Canada is a pan-Canadian alliance of organizations and individuals working toward just, sustainable, and healthy food systems.
For more information:
Marissa Alexander
Co-Executive Director, Food Secure Canada
marissa@foodsecurecanada.org
Wade Thorhaug
Co-Executive Director, Food Secure Canada
wade@foodsecurecanada.org