December 5th, 2018

NDP MPP calls on Ford Conservatives to address rising senior poverty

QUEEN’S PARK — Rima Berns-McGown, MPP for Beaches-East York and NDP critic for Poverty and Homelessness, urged the Ford Conservatives to address increasing senior poverty Tuesday in question period.

Monday, in its 2018 Hunger Report, the Ontario Association of Food Banks warned that senior hunger in the province is a looming crisis. The report found that more seniors are turning to food banks as the poverty rate among this growing group continues to rise.

“Seniors are being pushed further and further into poverty by the rising cost of living,” said Berns-McGown. “No one should have to go hungry or skip meals because they can’t afford to put food on the table.”

News of the looming crisis comes after the Ford Conservatives cancelled the Basic Income Pilot project and slashed social assistance rates in half.

The report also found that many of the seniors who turn to food banks are renters.

“Yet this government has decided to cut rent control for new units in the middle of a housing crisis,” said Berns-McGown. “Can the minister explain how cutting rent control in the middle of a housing crisis will make life more affordable for our seniors who need to use food banks so they can make their rent?”