Guelph MPP petitions for community gardens to remain open

Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner is petitioning the provincial government to keep community gardens open.

Schreiner has reached out to the province and started an online petition on the Green Party of Ontario web site to keep the gardens open after the province declared them non-essential.

“Growing food will always be essential. I wrote to the Premier today asking him to re-open community gardens,” Schreiner said on social media.

“I think he made a mistake categorizing them as a recreational activity. They feed tens of thousands of families as well as food banks.

“We can find a way to keep growing food locally, but with distancing guidelines to keep people safe.”

The province has declared them non-essential under the Emergency Management and Civil Protections Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Growing food in a community garden is not a recreational activity. It is an essential service and should be included in the agricultural exemption,” Schreiner said.

“Many individuals and families use community gardens to help feed themselves. Community gardens also supply fresh produce to support food banks and food security organizations.”