Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart and Daily Bread CEO Neil Hetherington meeting with Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford at our Day of Action.
As the province faces mounting layoffs from the ongoing trade war, rising unemployment, and the cost-of-living crisis, Feed Ontario is taking action. Yesterday, we held a Day of Action at Queen’s Park, and along with food bank representatives from across the province, we met with Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford and MPPs from all parties to discuss the urgent pressures food banks are confronting.
Over 1 million people in Ontario have to turn to a food bank to get by, and though food banks have gone above and beyond and risen to meet the need in their communities, the unprecedented challenges our province up against mean that food banks have fewer resources to help the growing number of people that have to rely on their services.
During our meetings, we stood together with food banks in our network to share our short and long-term recommendations with our representatives.
Feed Ontario and food bank representatives from across the province at Queen’s Park during our Day of Action.
Supporting workers in the short term
In the short-term, we recommended that the Province take steps to support workers affected by the trade war. This means making improvements to our social assistance programs, to ensure that when workers aren’t eligible for Employment Insurance, Ontario Works can help them stay on their feet.
Another way the government could take action to support Ontario workers and communities in the coming months is to make sure community organizations like food banks have the resources they need to meet the expected increases in demand.
Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart (right) and Vice President of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Amanda Colella-King (left) with Minister Jill Dunlop (centre) after their meeting at our Day of Action.
Feed Ontario Vice President of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Amanda Colella-King (right) alongside from Chris Peacock of The Sharing Place Food Centre (left) and Rose Butler of Daily Bread Food Bank (second from left) with MPP Alexa Gilmour (centre) after their meeting at Queen’s Park.
Feed Ontario team member (left) with Rose Butler of Daily Bread Food Bank (second from left) and Felix Correa Ferrufino of Kerr Street Mission (right) with MPP Lee Fairclough (centre) after their meeting.
Long-term solutions
We also shared our recommendation that in the long-term, the Province work toward addressing the root causes of poverty. One way of achieving this is to build the new poverty reduction strategy with a focus on people being able to meet their basic needs, rather than gaining employment alone.
Additionally, making commitments to building more social housing in the province and implementing real rent control would also reduce poverty and food insecurity in Ontario.
Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart shakes hands with Premier Doug Ford at our Day of Action.
Our meetings yesterday were productive, with MPPs from all parties were interested in hearing about our research and the challenges food banks in our network are up against, were receptive to learning about our recommendations, and had insights into how to best work together to create change. Thank you to Premier Ford and to all the MPPs we met with for discussing these important and pressing issues our province is facing.