The original deadline for submissions for this special issue was March 1, 2020, just days before the destabilizing and disorienting first wave of pandemic-related shutdowns in many parts of Canada. The (r)evolution in food systems pedagogy we were hoping to document and celebrate was promptly preempted by an abrupt transition to virtual learning. In an instant, teachers and learners alike were attending to a pedagogical revolution of another kind altogether. The enduring impacts of this upheaval remain unclear. In the immediate term, though, the shift to online learning presented a crisis (a hasty ‘pivot’ to online teaching and learning) within a crisis (the daily reality of living within the context of a deadly global pandemic). For many critical food systems students and teachers, these new crises layered on top of the already front-of-mind crises propelled by the capital-intensive, industrialized food system. Like peering through translucent nesting dolls, we squinted through layers of pedagogical disruption and pandemic to remain focused on the economic, social and ecological devastation wrought by our dominant food system, and for glimpses of the pluriverse of food systems alternatives that inspire and nourish us.

Examples of indigenous food security strategies in Canada.

Multilateral organizations and research institutions are increasingly calling for transformation of the industrial food system due to its negative health impacts, its contribution to climate change and the fact that the system fails to provide adequate food to more than 800 million people. A foremost rationale given for food system change is the so-called obesity crisis. This commentary draws from critical weight studies and ecological public health discourses to argue that it is unnecessary to connect the crises of the food system with a rise in overweight and obesity. This approach contributes to fat stigma and further marginalizes a group of people who already suffer from stigmatization. A more inclusive rationale for food system change can be found in a concept articulated by the Canadian Public Health Association termed the ‘ecological determinants of health.’ These are features of the biosphere such as water, air, food and soil systems that support life on earth and human health. The current industrial food system threatens the ecological determinants of health by contributing substantially to climate change and environmental degradation. A shift in discourse in food policy and practice to focus on the ecological health impacts of the food system is more inclusive and promotes the well-being of all.

This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on predominantly political issues. The questions ask opinions about political leaders and political issues within the country. There are also questions on other topics of interest and importance to the country and government, such as the possession of marijuana and cancer causing foods. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographic and social variables. Topics of interest include: adding human rights to the Constitution; adding language rights to the Constitution; the approval of Broadbent, the approval of Clark; the approval of Trudeau; the best ways to resolve Constitutional issues; changing the Constitution; the energy crisis in Canada; foods that may cause cancer; giving provinces more power; performance ratings; preferred Federal-Provincial power distribution; the province that will gain the most if given more power; rising food prices; and whether or not marijuana possession should be illegal. Basic demographic variables are also included.

Environmental sustainability in agriculture is a key component of discussions to address the current climate crisis; unfortunately, many people (including researchers) presume that only certain types of agriculture (e.g., organic, local) are environmentally sustainable. Non-farmers also fail to acknowledge that many farm practices, including grazing animals, mitigate climate change. Farmers’ perceptions about environmental sustainability are important because their livelihoods, and those of future generations, depend on their commitment to sustainable environmental practices. The purpose of this qualitative research was to understand Canadian farmers’ perceptions of environmental sustainability, how they are implementing strategies that contribute to sustainable food production, and the challenges they face. Fifty-two farmers, representing 48 farms and over 1000 years of farming experience, participated in comprehensive in-depth interviews. Four farms were in British Columbia; 13 in the Prairies; 26 in Central Canada; and five in Eastern Canada. A wide variety of farm types (e.g., fruit/vegetables, livestock, grains) and sizes (2 to 6500 acres) were included in the study. Farmers’ perceptions of environmental sustainability coalesced into four main themes: (1) definitions of sustainability and environmental sustainability, (2) current practices, (3) farming as an identity, and (4) challenges. Many participants explained that they already use sustainable practices and technology, contrary to prevailing opinion that entire food systems need to be transformed to be sustainable. As new agricultural policies and educational curricula are developed, information provided to students, policy makers, and the public must be accurate, balanced, evidence-based, and respectfully consider all perspectives, especially those of farmers.

Long-term care homes (LTCHs) implemented various models of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to identify these models of care and provide suggestions on best practices that could be integrated into LTCHs in efforts to improve resident care. The project included a quantitative survey and semi-structured key informant interviews with LTCH managers across Canada. Our objectives were to 1) identify models of care that were used to support resident care in Canadian LTCHs during the COVID-19 pandemic and to describe their intervention components, processes of implementation, and perceived impact; 2) determine whether LTCHs planned to sustain models of care implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that the most frequently reported models of care were related to healthy food options, exercise, music and art programs, and planned social activities for residents. Five barriers were identified in relation to implementing these models of care, which included: lack of funding, resources, or staffing; staff not being familiar with/reluctant to use the model; lack of resident buy-in; fear of COVID-19; and pandemic regulations. Common facilitators to implementation were also identified and included: staff support; resident/family buy-in; funding, legislation and/or resources provided; familiarity with model prior to COVID-19; and collaboration with other LTCHs. LTCHs perceived the models to be effective and planned to sustain most implemented models. LTCH managers discussed the need for funding and legislation to improve LTCHs and support the implementation of promising models of care. This study provides insight into the models of care implemented during the pandemic crisis period in Canadian LTCHs, how effective they were perceived to be, and plans for sustainment beyond the pandemic period.

Abstract1. Population cycles have long fascinated ecologists from the time of Charles Elton in the 1920s. The discovery of large population fluctuations in undisturbed ecosystems challenged the idea that pristine nature was in a state of balance. The 10-year cycle of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) across the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska is a classic cycle, recognized by fur traders for more than 300 years. 2. Since the 1930s ecologists have investigated the mechanisms that might cause these cycles. Proposed causal mechanisms have varied from sunspots to food supplies, parasites, diseases, predation, and social behaviour. Both the birth rate and the death rate change dramatically over the cycle. Social behaviour was eliminated as a possible cause because snowshoe hares are not territorial and do not commit infanticide. 3. Since the 1960s large-scale manipulative experiments have been used to discover the major limiting factors. Food supply and predation quickly became recognized as potential key factors causing the cycle. Experiments adding food and restricting predator access to field populations have been decisive in pinpointing predation as the key mechanism causing these fluctuations. 4. The immediate cause of death of most snowshoe hares is predation by a variety of predators, including the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis Kerr). The collapse in the reproductive rate is not due to food shortage as was originally thought, but is a result of chronic stress from predator chases. 5. Five major issues remain unresolved. First, what is the nature of the predator-induced memory that results in the prolonged low phase of the cycle? Second, why do hare cycles form a travelling wave, starting in the centre of the boreal forest in Saskatchewan and travelling across western Canada and Alaska? Third, why does the amplitude of the cycle vary greatly from one cycle to the next in the same area? Fourth, do the same mechanisms of population limitation apply to snowshoe hares in eastern North American or in similar ecosystems across Siberia? Finally, what effect will climatic warming have on all the above issues? The answers to these questions remain for future generations of biologists to determine., Usage notes1_Metadata for Kluane Hare GridsDescriptive data for the data given in the following 5 files2_Phases of Hare CycleDescribes the phases of the ten-year cycle of snowshoe hares for the years of study in the Yukon3_Monitoring Data for Small MammalsThe detailed data for the 3 main species discussed in this paper for the years studied, population size and confidence limits.4_Controls Hare Live trap data KluaneThe detailed demographic data for snowshoe hares on the control grids by capture date over all the years of study and all the grids that were controls.5_Feeding Experiment Data Figure 1The data used in Figure 1 for the feeding experiment on hares.6_Fence+Food Hare Capture DataThe detailed demographic data for the 1986-96 fence and food individual snowshoe hares by capture time, for this experiment that has been critical for our understanding.

COVID-19 has revealed deep inequities in our food system. As goodwill and charity from this crisis disappears, and emergency supports begin to dwindle, we can anticipate increased food insecurity amongst Canadians. Rising food prices and unemployment will drive a lack of access to fresh nutritious foods for already stressed and vulnerable individuals. As a community organizer who has advocated for poverty reduction and food justice over my lifetime, I understand the short-lived nature of change that occurs without public will and engagement - policy wins end up being removed in the next election cycle. My experience with party-dependent advocacy projects has led me to ask the question: how do we build the kind of public will that demands access to healthy and nutritious food as not an individual responsibility but a public duty, much like universal healthcare? In writing this paper I intend to draw upon my experiences in organizing to explore the deeper cultural and internal shifts that may need to occur to inspire public will and create change that lasts beyond a single election cycle, and the opportunity that COVID-19 presents as Canadians grapple with questions about food security and poverty in an unprecedented time. I will connect with three community members I advocated with in my time doing placebased community organizing, all with different experiences of food insecurity, and use a storytelling approach to imagine a more effective way of advocating for just food futures.La COVID-19 a révélé des inégalités profondes dans notre système alimentaire. À mesure que les élans d’entraide et de charité liés à cette crise disparaissent, et avec la fin des mesures de soutien d’urgence, on peut s’attendre à une vulnérabilité alimentaire accrue de la population canadienne. La hausse des prix des aliments, couplée à une hausse du chômage, rendront difficile l’accès à des aliments frais et nourrissants pour des tranches de la population déjà vulnérables. Forte de ma grande expérience en tant qu’actrice communautaire militant pour la réduction de la pauvreté et pour la justice alimentaire, je sais que des changements durables ne peuvent voir le jour qu’avec un engagement et une volonté de l’opinion publique – pour éviter que les victoires sur politiques soient renversées, la prochaine élection venue. Mes collaborations avec des partis politiques sur différents projets m’ont amené à formuler cette question: que faut-il faire pour que l’accès à de la nourriture saine et nutritive ne soit plus perçue par l’opinion publique comme une responsabilité individuelle mais comme une responsabilité du secteur public, au même titre que le système de santé ? Dans cet article je puise dans mon expérience d’organisation communautaire pour explorer les évolutions culturelles profondes qui pourront insuffler un vent de changement dans l’opinion publique et qui mèneront à des politiques susceptibles de durer au-delà d’un mandat électoral. J’explore aussi l’opportunité sans précédent que représente la COVID-19: elle a forcé plus de canadien(ne)s à se questionner sur la sécurité alimentaire et la pauvreté. Je m’appuie sur trois personnes aux côtés desquelles j’ai organisé des activités sur le terrain pour faire face à différentes situations d’insécurité alimentaire, et j’emploie une approche centrée sur le récit pour imaginer une façon plus efficace de faire la promotion de futurs alimentaires plus justes.

The Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) contain provisions that help to safeguard the Canadian drug supply. The regulatory provisions are one part of Canada's overall multi-stakeholder toolkit to help prevent and mitigate drug shortages. Compliance and enforcement actions related to these provisions are undertaken as per Health Canada's Compliance and enforcement policy for health products (POL-0001).

Themes and sub-themes developed through analysis of qualitative interviews.

As diverse actors work through disparate food movements seeking to tackle the causes and effects of the global food crisis, Holt-Giménez and Shattuck (2011) call for strategic alliances between progressive and radical trends in the food movement to transform our current food system. This paper focuses on the process of alliance formation by exploring the subjectivities of three of the authors who identify as women farmers and have had opportunities to learn from and engage with peasant movements through their participation in courses, encounters and organizing spaces of La Via Campesina (LVC). These farmers’ goal of striving toward a peasant identity reveals the influence of peasant-to-peasant processes (PtPP) on their conceptions of possible futures, and simultaneously exposes tensions and struggles in agroecology transition within the Canadian context, where capitalist industrial agriculture is the norm. Using the lens of post-structural feminism, we explore the potential for radical peasant movements to influence and inspire the restructuring of our ways of relating with the earth and each other in the global North. Based on this analysis we deepen our understanding of how PtPP can foster South-North alliances which have the potential to engender food system transformation.Divers acteurs tentent de s’attaquer aux causes et aux effets de la crise alimentaire mondiale en s’appuyant sur des mouvements alimentaires disparates. Cependant, Holt-Giménez et Shattuck (2011) sont d’avis que pour transformer notre système alimentaire actuel, il faut former des alliances stratégiques entre les tendances progressistes et radicales de ces mouvements. Selon eux, la relation qui existe entre l’Union nationale des agriculteurs et La Via Campesina (LVC) est un exemple intéressant de partenariat entre différentes classes. Le présent article a pour but de comprendre le processus de formation de tels partenariats en explorant les subjectivités propres à trois des autrices qui se considèrent comme étant des agricultrices. Or, c’est grâce à des cours, à des rencontres et à un accès à l’espace organisationnel de LVC que ces femmes ont eu l’occasion d’apprendre des mouvements paysans et d’échanger avec leurs acteurs. Leur objectif étant de développer une identité paysanne, il semblerait, selon nous, que ce genre de processus, dits paysan-à-paysan (Peasant-to-Peasant Processes/PtPP), ait influencé la façon dont les agricultrices en cause conçoivent leurs possibilités d’avenir. Parallèlement, leurs expériences ont aussi révélé les tensions et les luttes auxquelles font face les femmes qui choisissent un mode de vie paysan dans un contexte canadien. C’est donc procédant à une étude de cas collective que nous explorons ici comment, dans les pays du Nord, les mouvements paysans radicaux peuvent mener à la re-paysanisation et à la restructuration de nos rapports à la terre et à autrui. En conclusion, cette étude nous éclaire sur la façon dont le PtPP engendre des solidarités Sud-Nord ayant le potentiel de développer des mouvements radicaux qui seront, eux, en mesure de transformer le système alimentaire.

These amendments would introduce a regulatory framework for Drug Shortages within the Food and Drug Regulations.