QUESTION PERIOD — Agriculture and Agri-Food
Food Security
October 31, 2024
Leader, today is October 31, but food banks are already adding people’s names to the waiting lists for Christmas hampers.
Leader, on September 26, you said:
Too many still live with food insecurity. The government is proud of the efforts it has taken, along with the provinces and territories and the private sector.
Leader, in light of Food Banks Canada’s recent report, your words don’t ring true. Food banks across Canada receive over two million visits. That is 6% higher than last year and 90% higher than in 2019.
Leader, will you acknowledge that your government’s approach to helping the least fortunate is a dismal failure?
Thank you for the question. What I acknowledge, and what the government acknowledges, is that Canadian families are facing very serious problems because of rising food costs. Despite this government’s success with policies to reduce inflation and keep the economy healthy under the circumstances, the cost of living remains high, and this is tough for Canadians. I certainly acknowledge that. However, to suggest that, despite everything the government has done to help Canadians, it is responsible for this serious and distressing situation? No. With all due respect, I cannot accept the premise of your question.
Food banks are being used by 680,000 children, including the young girls you were so concerned about earlier. Worse yet, 30% of food banks are running out of food. I will say it again: 30% of food banks are running out of food. Would you agree that your “sunny ways” policy has done nothing to put food on the table?
Colleague, it’s all too easy to criticize a real, serious problem in Canada and to find a way, as you and your colleagues regularly do, to always blame the federal government without offering any real, pragmatic, serious solutions.
