Please also check out Food Banks Mississauga’s Press Release from November 13th, 2024.
On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, I introduced a motion to declare a Food Insecurity State of Emergency in Mississauga, which passed unanimously at City Council. Foodbanks Mississauga is facing overwhelming demand and limited resources. Special thanks to Meghan Nicholls and the entire team at Food Banks Mississauga for their incredible work. Thank you to everyone who supported the Thanksgiving Food Drive—your help will make a real difference.
This formal declaration is a monumental step in recognizing that food insecurity has gone beyond crisis levels and is not a temporary issue. Food insecurity has been affecting too many residents for far too long. Food Banks Mississauga now serves 1 in 13 Mississauga residents, up from 1 in 37 in 2019. Last year, food banks distributed over 9-million pounds of food or 55 per cent more than the previous year of which, 1 in 3 were children, some of our most at risk community members.
The City of Mississauga has the fastest-growing rate of food bank users in the province – exceeding the provincial average. Many residents are facing rising living costs of housing, gas and other essentials like medications, hygiene products, clothing and cleaning items. The lack of adequate government assistance, stable financial support and the under funding of essential programs and services, has left many in Mississauga’s communities vulnerable.
While focused on approaching the provincial and federal governments for more long-term solutions, today’s motion also looks to our partners at the Region of Peel to increase the Food Security Emergency Response Fund and to work alongside the other levels of government on advocacy and awareness campaigns highlighting the under funding of essential supports for residents.
The motion looks to achieve the following through collective actions at all levels of government, including:
Requesting the federal and provincial governments to declare food insecurity an emergency, in solidarity with Mississauga. Improving Ontario’s social assistance programs to meet the realities of our economy.
Investing in affordable, supportive and public housing. Building a stronger workforce through better labour laws that benefit workers, and enhanced worker support programs. Supporting the Groceries and Essentials Benefit brought forward by Food Banks Canada, aimed to help struggling households afford vital costs like food and shelter.
Food Banks Mississauga and their network of more than 60 agency members served over 56,000 food bank visitors from June 2023 to May 2024 – 58 per cent more than the previous year. They saw a total of over 420,000 visits – almost an 80 per cent year-over-year increase.
As food bank usage skyrockets, Food Banks Mississauga is also preparing for greater demand that Statistics Canada and Food Banks Canada expect in the near future. They estimate that one in four Canadian residents will need the help of a community program.
The Groceries and Essentials Benefit, as introduced by Food Banks Canada and other organizations, provides immediate income support to those who need it most. This benefit would work quickly, using the structure that is already in place. By adjusting the GST/HST credit, this benefit would ensure extra support reaches those who need it most so that people don’t fall further into poverty.
To learn more about the Groceries and Essentials Benefit and send a message to your MP, visit www.foodbanksmississauga.ca/groceries-benefit
To make a gift, visit: www.foodbanksmississauga.ca/holiday
