Dear colleague,

I have taken note of the petition filed by the deputy of Jean-Lesage at the National Assembly last December, concerning the introduction of various vegan options in public canteens.

The Bio-Food Policy 2018-2025 – Feeding our world puts consumer expectations and their health at the heart of its priorities. The policy is governmental in scope and is the result of a co-construction process carried out with leading partners in the biofood sector, representatives of civil society and all the ministries concerned. Its main objective is to increase the presence of healthy, local and eco-responsible foods in public institutions, as well as their promotion. It also contributes to meeting the various expectations of Quebec society with regard to the food supply in public institutions.

Moreover, in 2016, Québec adopted the Government Policy on Health Prevention, which reflects the commitment of fifteen ministries and organizations to improve the health and quality of life of the population.

These policies ensure that public organizations contribute to the creation of an environment that promotes healthy eating. They also support the efforts of government and sectoral partners to improve the supply of and access to varied and nutritious food.

Finally, I would like to assure you that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food takes the needs and expectations of citizens to heart and that eating varied and nutritious food in public institutions is one of my concerns. In fact, over the next few months, I will have the pleasure of unveiling an initiative that will focus in particular on the purchase of healthy, local and eco-responsible food in public institutions.

Yours sincerely, Dear colleague, I would like to express my best wishes.

Minister,

André Lamontagne