The bill is paid today!

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2002

(OTTAWA) - As of today, the average Canadian has earned enough income to pay his or her grocery bill for the entire year. It's Food Freedom Day!

"Think about this: Canadians will be working for many more months to pay off what they owe in taxes. But as of today they have made enough money to buy all their food for a year," said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). "Here in Canada consumers get some of the highest quality, safest and most affordable food in the world thanks to our Canadian farmers."

According to statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Canadians spends about 6.73 per cent of their net national disposable income (NNDI) on food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding food purchased in restaurants). By comparison, German consumers spend 7.73 per cent of their NNDI on food, Australians 8.75 per cent, in Italy 10.58 percent and in Mexico 19.03 per cent.

The CFA will mark Food Freedom Day by serving an outdoor free lunch on Parliament Hill. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. farmers will serve hearty bowls of chicken à la king with bread and milk. Speakers will make brief addresses starting at 11:30 a.m. Speakers include: CFA President Bob Friesen, Martine Mercier - Vice-président, Union des producteurs agricoles du Quebec (en français), MP Bob Speller, MP Howard Hilstrom, MP Rick Borotsik and MP Dick Proctor.

"Join us on the Hill today for a taste of Food Freedom - from Canadian agricultural producers to you." - Bob Friesen

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest national farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.

Contact:

Kieran Green,
CFA Communications Coordinator (613) 769-4033 (cell), info@cfafca.ca

Bob Friesen,
CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)

Brigid Rivoire,
CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)