Open for signatureElectronice-7769 · Parliament 45

Negotiate Charlottetown market lease

Sign on the House of Commons website

Petitioners ask the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‑Food to negotiate with Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq to secure a long‑term lease and enable repairs to the Charlottetown Farmers' Market to protect vendors' livelihoods and local food sovereignty.

Why we would sign this petition

  • It would secure a long-term lease and fund repairs, enabling vendors to resume regular operations and stabilizing their livelihoods.
  • It advances stated federal goals for food security, food sovereignty and local food hubs by preserving an established community food venue.
  • A negotiated agreement with Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq could respect Indigenous rights and build collaborative stewardship of federally controlled land.

Why we wouldn’t sign this petition

  • Federal–Indigenous negotiations can be legally and procedurally complex, risking lengthy delays that may not quickly restore market operations.
  • Repairing and maintaining the existing building could be costly or impractical; a longer-term solution or relocation might be more efficient or sustainable.
  • Prioritizing this site could create precedent or competing claims over federal land use, requiring careful balancing of broader policy and community interests.

The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Following the fire on Christmas Day at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market, talks with Agriculture Canada and L’nuey PEI have failed to progress to allow the CFM Co-operative to negotiate a long-term lease on federally controlled land and complete repairs to the existing structure; This failure of negotiation is has impacted the vendors (farmers) at the market, putting many of their livelihoods at risk. While a temporary venue is being used as a stop gap it is not feasible for longevity. This failure of action is directly in opposition to the recent national goals of the Government to Canada to support increased food security, food sovereignty and promote local food hubs; and There is an opportunity here for the Government of Canada to work with the Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq in negotiating a solution which promotes and protects the values of all involved. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to: 1. Take action to enter meaningful negotiation with the Epekwitnewaq Mi'kmaq, in a way that recognizes the need to negotiate with respect for the sovereignty and wisdom of the original people of this country we call Canada; 2. Hold in our attention the importance of making every effort to foster, support and protect food sovereignty, food security and by extension the small footprint of independent local food production; and 3. Support the most fiscally responsible action in this case wherein repairs are made to an existing asset.

Government response

No government response is available yet.