This policy brief outlines the extent of the problem of food security at a national, provincial, and local level. It provides context that addresses the question of why there is an increasing reliance on food banks by more residents in Niagara. It includes an analysis of the federal, provincial, and local response to food insecurity, and reviews initiatives in Niagara that might utilize the abundance of produce harvested in the region.
The brief concludes by noting the need for systemic changes to assist people in Niagara to move out of poverty. Recommendations aimed to reduce food insecurity in Niagara include:
– An emphasis on numerous calls for the Federal Government to provide a Basic Income for low-income households
– A call for the Provincial Government to raise minimum wage, disability benefits and social assistance rates to align with a living wage, and to financially assist food banks
– An appeal for the Niagara Region and all local municipalities in Niagara to work together to increase the supply of community housing in the region, and to investigate the long-term impacts of severe food insecurity facing a growing number of children in Niagara.
Published By: Niagara Community Observatory at Brock University. Author: Joanne Heritz
Publication Date: April, 2024
Click here to access: Niagara Community Observatory Policy Brief #58: Sustaining Food Security in Niagara
