Honourable senators, the holiday season is around the corner. Let’s make it a happy holiday season for all. Let’s help our local food banks.

Food banks are essential. The persistence of poverty inevitably begets food insecurity, underscoring the continued necessity of these charitable institutions.

Feed Ontario released a report yesterday, indicating that over 800,000 Ontarians used a food bank between April 2022 and March 2023.

In Quebec, the situation is similar. According to Food Banks of Quebec, nearly 900,000 people used a food bank every month this year.

According to the most recent data, 71% of food banks in Quebec did not have enough food to meet the needs of the public over the past year. That is why it is more important than ever to support community organizations across the country that serve our fellow citizens by offering them food and other essential products.

I am thinking, for example, about Moisson Montréal, which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary in 2024. Since 1984, this charitable organization has been collecting and distributing free donations of food throughout the year to Montrealers in need, by regularly serving more than 300 community organizations.

There are many organizations like Moisson Montréal across the province and from coast to coast.

According to Food Banks Canada, there are more than 4,750 food banks and community organizations across the country that work towards addressing hunger. Food banks are that rare business that actually wants to go out of business.

Honourable senators, once again, let’s make it a happy holiday season for all. I encourage us and I invite all Canadians to volunteer at their local food banks during the holiday season. If you can, please donate food, essential goods or Christmas presents so that families and individuals in our communities can truly enjoy the holidays without having to choose between feeding their kids or heating their homes.

Here in the Senate, I hope senators and staff will contribute to our Toys for Tots campaign under the stewardship of our Honourable Speaker.

Together, let’s help make the holidays just a little bit merrier and brighter for those in need.

Thank you.