Bring vibrant Street Food to Ottawa!

by: Kelly Brisson

recipient: Ottawa City Council

****Please note: This petition will be considered a public document at the City of Ottawa and the information contained in it may be subject to the scrutiny of the City and other members of the general public****



(ONLY SIGNATURES WITH FULL NAME/EMAIL/MAILING ADDRESS ARE CONSIDERED VALID BY CITY COUNCIL)



In a city rich with cultural diversities and masterful culinarians, are hot dogs and hamburgers the best we can do on our streets? Prior to 2007, the restrictions of street food vendors were handled by the Provincial government. As of 2007, the province changed regulations and is now allowing street food to be managed under the blanket of municipal Medical Officers of Health.



Taking the words from Jonathon Lomow of TheWig.ca, "The effects of a vibrant food cart culture in a city are far deeper and more complex than the flavour of the foods themselves."



The benefits of better street food are vast. To name a few...



-Providing an entry point to business ownership to those who can't afford the overhead of a brick-and-mortar restaurant



-Helps grow neighborhood by attracting foot traffic to commercial districts, increases sales and creates a more vibrant retail business atmosphere



-Increases access to healthier, local food which, in turn, supports our local farmers



-Showcases Ottawa’s cultural diversities and gives access to a variety of food choices



We CAN do better. Let’s rally together and make a name for Ottawa’s Street Food. A better detailed plan on Food Safety can open the door to healthier, local, fresh food. Kimchi Quesadillas, Chinese Dumplings, Freshly-made Crepes, Injeras and Gyros can be ours if we’re willing to speak up and bring this to City Council.



Please sign and share. Ottawa needs your support.

read petition letter ▾ We, the undersigned residents of Ottawa, would like City Council to take advantage of changes made to provincial regulations in 2007 and put in place a better detailed plan for food safety so we can benefit from a vibrant, culturally diverse street-food scene in Ottawa. We believe this would have lasting positive effects on our city's tourism sector, economic development, public transit, health and nutrition, use of public space and overall sense of community.



We thank you sincerely for taking the time to read this and are anxious to hear your thoughts. Signed,