OTTAWA—Carol Hughes, Member of Parliament for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing (AMK), urged Parliament to take action against food insecurity.
“Canadians are suffering from a food insecurity crisis which is jeopardizing our citizen’s fundamental right to nutrition,” stated MP Hughes, as she rose in the House of Commons on December 12 to address the food insecurity crisis.
“(Food) availability, adequacy and accessibility are compromised not only in my riding of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing but also across the entire country,” said MP Hughes.
MP Hughes called on MPs to prioritize this crisis and implement a national school lunch program, a guaranteed livable basic income, as well as crack down on corporate greed to uphold the right to proper nutrition. She further highlighted that the rates of food insecure households in Ontario have been on the rise for several years.
“Food insecurity in Ontario has been steadily increasing, from 7.8 percent in 2008 to 18 percent in 2022,” said MP Hughes. “Among the most affected are 41.7 percent of First Nations on reserve households, followed by single mothers at a distressing 41 percent. Moreover, one-third of food bank users are children.”
“Let’s all affirm our commitment to a society where every citizen lives in dignity, free from the specter of food insecurity,” added MP Hughes.
