NDP MP has all party backing for his proposal.NDP MP Wayne Stetski's goal is to make the Friday before Thanksgiving be recognized as Food Day Canada to celebrate the wealth of local food products produced across the country and he's on a tight Parliamentary time line to make it happen this year.In late June, the Commons agriculture committee approved his private member's bill and agreed to report it back to the Commons. That could be as early as Sept. 19 when Parliament is to resume after the summer recess. It would still require final approval in the Commons as well as passage by the Senate to make it official. If the reaction to the bill so far is a guide, Stetski has a decent shot at making his goal, which would be Oct. 5 this year. If not, it could start in 2019.Stetski, who represents the Kootenay riding in British Columbia, explained his vision to the agriculture committee. “Simply put, food matters. It's at the heart of our culture, our economy, and our communities. A national local food day would provide an opportunity for all of us to recognize the hard work of the many producers, harvesters, manufacturers, restauranteurs, and others who put food on the table for Canadian families every single day.“It would also give us an opportunity to reflect upon and raise awareness of the challenges many Canadians face in finding healthy, affordable food close to home and to take action to foster local food systems that work for everyone,” he said.There are great local food success stories across the country, he said. “I continue to hear from Canadians across the country about just how important local food is to their families and to their communities,” he said.As well, organizations such as Food Secure Canada, the Canadian Meat Council, Restaurants Canada, and Turkey Farmers of Canada have voiced support for his bill.Food Day Canada was originally organized in 2003 as the world's longest barbecue. It is a private enterprise that coordinates dinners at about 31 restaurants nationally but has no provincial or federal recognition, he said. As well, it has no direct relationships with producers, farmer's markets, or other agricultural organizations across Canada.While there have been many different food initiatives across Canada, Food Day Canada would give everybody “the opportunity to celebrate the local food in their communities,” he said. “We particularly picked the Friday before Thanksgiving so that we could celebrate local food on the Friday, and then eat it on Sunday.”He said that 10 years ago in Cranbrook in his riding “there was no farmers' market and now more than $1 million goes through that farmers' market every summer, and that's true for pretty much everywhere there is a farmers' market across Canada. The interest in food security is growing as well, and it is important to keep food security in mind. The best way to have food security is to grow your food locally.”Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen, from the Alberta riding of Red Deer—Mountain View said Food Day Canada would be an important reminder of the importance of food production across the country. “The key thing is that there are so many generations, unfortunately, that are away from the farm. People have stopped understanding what growing food, processing food, and selling food is all about. If this is an opportunity—and I hope that everyone will look at this as an opportunity—to respect those who are on the land, the true environmentalists, one hopes this will help in that awareness.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.