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A debate over vegetarian food is threatening to split Edmonton’s city council as they confront a new request from the youth.

“Most of us said, ‘What the heck?’” said Coun. Tony Caterina, surprised at a formal motion from Edmonton’s youth council that asks councillors to make all their catered meals vegan or vegetarian because of the impact reducing meat consumption typically has on water use, land use and carbon emissions.

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In practice, the change would be small — eliminating an occasional meat and cheese platter served on full council days several times a year.

But as a public statement in historically pro-beef Alberta, a yes vote would be significant.

“It’s a huge step,” said Kelly Struthers Montford, a PhD candidate studying food politics and meat-eating culture at the University of Alberta. She advised the youth councillors when they voted to make their monthly meals vegan.