As inflation continues to dog Canadians in their daily lives, a new report has shed light on food insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador — and who is experiencing it. The University of Toronto’s Food Insecurity Evidence Research Program’s new report found that 17.9 percent of households in Newfoundland and Labrador — amounting to about 90,000 residents — were considered food insecure in 2021, meaning that they were struggling to afford. Among Canadian provinces, the prevalence of food insecurity ranged from 13.1 percent in Quebec to 20.3 percent in Alberta. Contrary to what people might assume, says the U of T professor whose program published the report, the data show that most people facing food insecurity are working adults and their families. Almost half of all households in the province described in the report are in the workforce, notes Professor Valerie Tarasuk, professor of nutritional sciences. Additionally, the food insecurity rate among those participating in social assistance programs in the province reached 68.8 percent. Tarasuk said the report’s most troubling statistic for Newfoundland and Labrador revolves around children. While the national rate of food insecurity among those aged 18 and under is one in five, more than one in four children (26.4 per cent) lived in a food insecure household in NL in 2021. This equates to around 22,000 children. “The health effects of food insecurity are undeniable,” Tarasuk said. “Raising children in these environments is not good. Parents are going to do everything they can to make sure these children eat. When we say one in four children are in food insecure situations, that doesn’t mean they’re all going to go hungry “Probably not, but they’re living in an environment that’s in crisis because somebody in that household is going crazy trying to figure out how to get by day to day.” Valerie Tarasuk, a professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, says the health effects of food insecurity are undeniable. (Submitted by University of Toronto) Tarasuk said children in these environments are more likely to struggle academically and experience physical and mental health problems over time. As for what can be done to combat the crisis, Tarasuk said that while Newfoundland and Labrador’s 10 percent income supplement and the seniors’ allowance “certainly aren’t going to do any harm,” more needs to be done than the provincial and federal authorities. “The first step to solving your problem is to name it,” Tarasuk said. “It’s a tough time financially for everyone, but I feel like the provincial and federal governments really, really need to think about how best to support families right now.” The report recommends raising minimum wages, reducing income tax for lower-income households and establishing a guaranteed income for all Canadians. “One of the positive things for Newfoundland and Labrador is that there has been clear recognition of the importance of food insecurity both in the province’s discussions on the minimum wage and in the Health Accord,” Tarasuk said. “I think it’s great, [but] that’s not something I would say across the country.” While Tarasuk says there are solutions that can be explored, she believes past inaction is an indicator that things won’t change overnight. “It is unlikely that the situation for 2022 will be better unless there is very, very deliberate action on the part of our federal and provincial governments,” he said. “We haven’t seen it yet.”
‘Clear indication’ of struggle, says Single Parents Association
The Single Parents Association of Newfoundland has first-hand knowledge of the struggles of local families. The organization experienced a significant increase in demand for all of its services, to the point where it had to close its waiting list. Executive Director Sonya Smith says the organization hosts an annual back-to-school program, where book bags are filled with school supplies for K-12 children growing up in single-parent homes. Last year, 364 students benefited from the program. In 2022, 644 children were enrolled, with an additional waiting list eventually implemented. The Single Parents Association of Newfoundland has seen an increase in demand for its back-to-school program, which provides school supplies to children, and has had to create a waiting list. (Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank) “There are probably 25-30 students on the waiting list,” Smith said. “We’ll take care of it. But there comes a point where you have to say ‘we’ve reached our limits’ in terms of being able to provide for families this year, but we have programs that we can help families [with] also.” According to Smith, the dramatic jump in demand for aid is a “clear indication of how much people are really suffering”, adding that the situation has steadily worsened even since January this year, with many families now using food banks to long periods. of time instead of occasionally. The Single Parents Association says it has seen an increase in demand for both its food bank and emergency services. (Submitted by Mehnaz Tabassum ) Smith said she wasn’t surprised by the numbers in the report. “Unfortunately, this is happening in our province. To be quite honest, we are seeing more families asking for emergency food. We have never seen this before.” Smith estimates that two to three requests for emergency restraint are made each week. “We see people come to the food bank and stay,” Smith said. “Month after month, they get help from us. Now with the emergency problems, we see that almost every day. “It’s a sad commentary on the way things are in the province. We have to find a way we can be more efficient, help more people and help people move forward in their lives. Now it’s about finding out how can we do this?’ That’s our responsibility to do that, and we have to start thinking in those terms.” WATCHES | Proof of Political Food Insecurity Research findings explained Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
