A/HRC/22/50/Add.1 I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on the right to food undertook an official visit to Canada from 6 to 16 May 2012, at the invitation of the Government. The purpose of the mission was to examine the way in which the human right to adequate food is being realized in Canada. The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada for coordinating the visit. Additionally, he is grateful to the representatives of the following federal government departments who met with him: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Health Canada; Human Resources and Skills Development Canada; Justice Canada; and the Canadian International Development Agency. He also met with the Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq. 2. The Special Rapporteur also had the opportunity to meet with provincial and municipal authorities, including the Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services; the Ontario Ministries of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Children and Youth Services, and Health and Long-Term Care; the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre; the City of Toronto (Food Strategy Team and Food Policy Council); and the Manitoba Ministry of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Ministry of Family Services and Labour, and Ministry of Healthy Living, Seniors and Consumer Affairs. The Special Rapporteur also met with political party officials, including Thomas Mulcair, leader of the New Democratic Party, and Bob Rae, interim leader of the Liberal Party. 3. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Montreal, Québec; Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Edmonton, Alberta. In these locations, he convened eight civil society meetings in which he met with farmers’ organizations, food security groups, human rights organizations, academics, researchers and community members. He received submissions from across Canada, both at these meetings and in writing. 4. The Special Rapporteur also had the occasion to meet with aboriginal groups and communities in Québec, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, including the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. In particular, the Special Rapporteur would like to warmly thank the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Southern Chiefs Organization for facilitating his visits within Manitoba to the Sagkeeng First Nation (where he met with chiefs, council and community members from Chemawawin Cree Nation, Pukatawagan/Mathias Cree Nation, Lake Manitoba, Peguis, Swan Lake and Treaty 3 First Nations) and to God’s River, Manto Sipi Cree and Wasagamack First Nations around the Island Lakes area. The Special Rapporteur also extends his gratitude to the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, the Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation and the International Indian Treaty Council for facilitating his visits in Alberta (where he met with chiefs, council members and communities from Treaties 6, 7, 8, the Enoch Cree First Nation and the Northwest Territories). He is grateful for the hospitality of the First Nations communities, and he thanks them for their time and engagement with him. 3