Food bank lines prove we’ve lost our way
Toronto Star, May 12, 2024
NICK SAUL AND VALERIE TARASUK
CONTRIBUTORS
The long lineups of bundle buggies, anxiety and despair in front of churches and social service organizations in our cities and towns are impossible to miss. These food lines are some of the most visible signs of a society that’s lost its way, but the reality is they represent a fraction of the crisis at hand. Statistics Canada’s recently released data reveals that we have never had such high rates of food insecurity in the nation’s recorded history.
Nearly a quarter of Canadians report going without food, compromising on the quality of their groceries or being worried about where their next meal will come from. That’s close to nine million people and a 26 percent uptick from last year. These numbers are far worse for one-parent families, single working-age adults, people living with a disability, and Black and Indigenous communities. Not only are more people joining the ranks of the food insecure, levels of deprivation are growing. For example, the number of people who report not always being able to afford enough to eat rose by 50 percent this year — that’s 2.3 million people across the country. Consider the impact on our health care system. As research shows, people who are food insecure are much more likely to have mental and physical health problems and much less likely to have the disposable income to manage these problems. Food-insecure people turn up in higher numbers at doctor’s offices, emergency departments, and hospital wards. When they are hospitalized, they end up staying longer and are more likely to be readmitted. All of their health problems are intensified as the severity of food insecurity worsens.
Food insecurity is inextricably linked to inadequate and insecure incomes. More and more people simply do not have enough money to make ends meet. Low wages and scant benefits, as well as grossly inadequate provincial and territorial social assistance programs, contribute to the gap between incomes and living costs. It’s a problem that’s been festering for years, but cost increases for food, shelter, fuel, and other necessities have pushed millions over the brink.
The sheer scale of this crisis demands a national response. The good news is we already know the key policy levers at the federal level to address it. The research is unequivocal: direct income investments reduce food insecurity, improve health, and help foster a more equitable society.
Unfortunately, the recent federal budget failed to deliver on this score. Although the government committed to investing in critical areas of social infrastructure, such as affordable housing and pharmacare, the gravity of this historic moment was not met. Even the launch of the Canada Disability Benefit fell miles short: a meagre $ 200-a-month benefit that is difficult to access and won’t hit people’s pockets until July 2025.
What we need is immediate action. This starts with the federal government committing to slash food insecurity in half and eliminate severe food insecurity altogether by 2030. Achieving this target will require bold policies. Low-income Canadians must have adequate and stable incomes — whether they are in the workforce or not.
Expanding the Canada Worker Benefit into a new Canada Working Age Supplement would begin to build greater inclusion and health for this often-overlooked demographic. Increasing the Canada Disability Benefit and transforming the GST credit into a new Groceries and Essentials Benefit could also help us to establish a more dignified baseline for our most vulnerable citizens.
The dispiriting emergency food lines and the crushing desperation won’t go away without action. We know what is required. Let’s get to work.
[Read the full article: FOOD BANKS ]
[ NICK SAUL IS CEO OF COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRES CANADA. ]
[ VALERIE TARASUK IS PROFESSOR EMERITA AND INVESTIGATOR OF FOOD INSECURITY POLICY RESEARCH AT U OF T. ]
[ We invite your comments. We may consider forwarding them to FORD, TRUDEAU and the relative elected officials and the appropriate government ministers. ]
Comments
4 responses to “POINT-COUNTERPOINT: Govts paying lip service to problems of FOOD BANK use”
The human dignity issue of food scarcity in our community is a growing concern and a true reflection of so many other impactful circumstances present in our current economy. Despite best efforts and intentions by charitable organizations, the continuation of stocking food banks and distributing food is not a long term solution. Food dollars are being spent perhaps by the needy on their housing; transportation; personal needs before being allocated to their food needs. The economy has driven a lot of people to the thin line of having to choose where and how to spend their money to survive daily, and attending a food bank takes the pressure off their food bill. It is a sad reality for all of us to witness. More can be done to address this issue by all levels of government. We need to find solutions to address this growing need.
Thank you.
This topic has been analyzed by all levels of government to the point that it is self-evident, that whatever is being done today is not meeting the problem of food insecurity for a segment of our population. Over the past decades we have only seen the need for more and more food banks, and the need for more and more resources to supply food. Our local food bank has expressed the need of people requiring assistance has doubled since COVID-19 started in 2020. Everyone is doing their part, large and small to help keep up with the demand, but it is only growing as each year passes.
Statistics Canada has published information on this subject, but there isn’t a Federal or Provincial program or response that really addresses the issue in a meaningful way.
Why is it that government can find millions and billions to throw at military spending, or send millions to other needy countries, but not have a basic level of support for Canadians? Enough has been said about food insecurity and those in need.
It’s time for solutions and action.
We have been criticizing governments, provincial and federal, for their lackadaisical policies relating to the problems of Food Bank users at table discussions repeatedly, not on our website for fear of reprisals and distribes. But enough is enough.
The government policies have been lipservice, nothing else. No real basic income assistance, no real basic hourly wage regulation, and on it just goes and on. Don’t expect us, the average citizens to come up with solutions. That’s why political leaders are paid. What are these leaders doing, catering to the next electtion victory or carrying out the purpose for their election in the first place, to govern responsibly and effectively. What are they really doing?
Read the Star article by Saul and Tarasuk, who corroborate that Food Bank use is growing horrendously. They suggest solutions as they conclude their article.
Dog FORD, Pet TRUDEAU, are either of you listening?