City Council committee approves tax rebates for growing food on vacant lots

On Monday, May 30 the Saskatoon Food Council coordinated a presentation to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Service – PDCS.   Speakers included representatives from the Food Council, Chain Reaction Urban Farm , the University of Saskatchewan, CHEP Good Food, Roof Top Gardeners and the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre.

 The Food Council has been leading a consultation process with city planners to design a Vacant Lot Gardening program over the last year.

Saskatoon’s PDCS committee unanimously supported the program and recommended approval to a full meeting of City Council.

How the program works:

• The goal: To increase food security in Saskatoon.
• The grant: Equal to 50 per cent of the annual property taxes on a vacant lot, but no more than $500 a year for residential sites and $1,200 a year for non-residential properties.
• The demand: There are about 400 vacant lots in Saskatoon.