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Coupon cut a shame

The farming community has had its roots trimmed, without so much as a word of warning. So abrupt, in fact, that a high-ranking MLA was unaware, it seems.

The farming community has had its roots trimmed, without so much as a word of warning.

So abrupt, in fact, that a high-ranking MLA was unaware, it seems.

Other than perhaps the continuing desire to impress the world by flashing the five rings at every opportunity, and seconding all cash possible to be able to patriotically puff out chests and beat them relentlessly, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the provincial government's decision to cut funding to the Farmers Market Nutrition and Coupon program.

It's a slashing that closely mirrors the Liberal government's decision six months ago to abruptly squeeze off the financial lifeline that so many cultural and sports groups counted on annually - as in, goodbye, gaming money.

If you missed the news item, the highly-successful plan was cancelled for the upcoming growing season. What did the program espouse? Not much - except put in place a system to allow low-income families and pregnant women to obtain fresh local foods. Nutritious foods, to be certain, including eggs, herbs and fresh produce.

The reason for the cut to the program? A shortage of funds, which means the relatively meagre draw of $750,000 could not be met.

According to Roman Muntener, one of the directors of the local farmers' market, the coupons were treasured and redeemed at a high rate, including drawing the area's First Nations people to the downtown market. The program had a natural effect of improving education about healthy eating - and healthy eating is proven to reduce the draw on medical services, just one of the bonuses of improved nutrition.

Not to mention, it's hard to argue against any program that helps pregnant mothers bring healthy children into the world.

The government would be hard-pressed to point out another provincially-funded pilot as highly-successful as the Farmers Market Nutrition and Coupon program, if the claims of manager Paula Luther are accurate. Luther stated the redemption rate was 94 per cent, and that the number of communities involved had risen from five to 16 in the three years the program was in place.

It's not hard to wonder if the coupons would remain by including one component - adding it to Own the Podium, so our athletes feel less inclined to dine on the fast-food offered by many of the official Olympic sponsors. Sorry, no cheeseburgers and colas were available by flashing the coupons.

The glimmer of hope from the story, printed in Thursday's Citizen, is that local MLA Pat Bell seemed caught off guard by the funding cut. Perhaps, with his promise to make a few calls, a better decision can be made.


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