The federal government has introduced a new National Food Security Strategy in hopes of addressing the high cost of groceries and improving access to locally-produced food.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa has set aside $3 billion to address “challenges in our food system… through targeted measures and investments to help create a more affordable, sustainable and resilient food supply chain in Canada, in other words, all the way across the supply chain.”

The federal government is planning to establish 40 new commercial food hubs across the country. The key objectives include increasing competition, growing more fruits and vegetables in Canada year-round, and processing more food locally.

Ottawa also aims to lower prices “by removing expensive regulatory barriers so farmers and producers can put more Canadian food on our shelves more easily.”  Carney expects that “within four years our strategy targets increasing the number of independent grocers buying from food terminals or hubs by 15 per cent will be achieved.”