Item - 2021.HL27.2

The Board of Health:

1.  Received the report (March 25, 2021) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration for information.

The experience of anti-Black racism is one of the greatest predictors of food insecurity for African, Caribbean and Black communities living in Toronto. Anti-Black racism has shaped key social determinants of health for Black communities, including their overall experience of poverty, access to housing and income. This situation has created detrimental impacts, and a situation of chronic food insecurity for Black Torontonians.

This report responds to the Board of Health direction from July 2020 to provide an update on the creation of a Black Food Sovereignty Plan to improve access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food as part of the City of Toronto's COVID-19 response and planning. It also responds to the June 2020 Board of Health direction to address anti-Black racism as a public health crisis and demonstrate commitment and action to addressing social determinants of health that negatively impact Black communities.

Black families are 3.5 times more likely to be food insecure, compared to white families, with 36.6 percent of Black children living in food insecure households. High food insecurity rates have also been linked to negative health outcomes, including an increased likelihood of developing chronic diseases, like diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease and depression. Populations most affected by food insecurity have also been identified as being most vulnerable to COVID-19, putting Black populations at greater risk of contracting the virus.

The development of a Black Food Sovereignty Plan will provide a comprehensive approach to address the chronic food insecurity faced by Black residents through addressing systemic barriers, while increasing access, opportunity and ownership over their local food systems. More specifically, the Black Food Sovereignty Plan will work to advance three interlocking goals:

1.  Develop City-supported, Black-led initiatives dedicated to addressing food insecurity issues that disproportionately impact Black communities;

2.  Identify and establish sustained supports and funding for food focused Black-led, Black-serving, and Black mandated organizations and Black food sovereignty community infrastructure; and

3.  Engage, align, and leverage new and existing City strategies and initiatives to advance systems change and shared goals to realize Black food sovereignty outcomes in neighbourhoods with high Black populations.

Realizing a Black Food Sovereignty Plan is a priority deliverable in the year three work plan for the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration will bring forward the Black Food Sovereignty Plan to the Economic and Community Development Committee in September 2021.