Food bank usage increases in Ottawa, Ford’s cuts will worsen the problem: NDP

Ottawa Centre NDP MPP Joel Harden said that the 2018 Ottawa Hunger Report is an early warning for how much Doug Ford’s cuts to planned social assistance rates and cancellation of the basic income pilot will spread poverty further, and make life even harder for those who are struggling.

The 2018 Ottawa Hunger Report, titled “Food Banks do More as Governments do Less,” paints a disturbing picture of rising food bank usage. Over the past decade, the number of food banks and people accessing them has increased by almost 30 per cent in Ottawa.

“We need to do so much better for families struggling to get by,” said Harden. “No one should be left without the very basics in Ontario. Food banks do all they can to help, but Doug Ford’s cuts to the coming year’s social assistance rates, and the new loopholes he’s created to end rent control for many, make it even more difficult for families to get on stable ground, and for foodbanks to keep filling the gaps.”

The report found that foodbank use is increasing, with 34 per cent of food bank users visiting at least once a month. 37,524 people access a food program every month, and 53,600 are food insecure, meaning they don’t have access to affordable, healthy food.

The report also found that the number of homeless families accessing shelters has increased by over one-third over the past three years, and highlighted the need for more affordable housing. Ottawa Foodbank CEO Michael Maidment stressed that social assistance cuts and cancelling the Basic Income Pilot will put even more pressure on foodbanks and drive up demand.

“Every person living in Ottawa deserves the opportunity to build a good life for themselves, but Ford’s cuts are making that harder,” said Harden. “New Democrats are committed to making life easier for Ottawa families. We’ll continue to speak out against Ford’s cuts to social assistance and rent control that are taking us backwards.”