High food bank usage reveals real face of poverty: Opposition   

Roland Butler, MHA for the District of Port de Grave and Opposition Critic for Human Resources, Labour and Employment, says the  significant rise in  food bank usage across the province is not addressed in the recently released poverty reduction progress report and this  should be a cause for concern for those tackling poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador.     

Food Banks Canada reports in Hunger Count 2009  that this province has seen a 10.1 per cent increase in food  bank use.  There are over 30,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who rely on food banks on a regular basis.

“Not only are the new statistics on food bank usage alarming, but government’s poverty strategy and its progress report fail to  acknowledge that this part of our society exists, let alone offer solutions to address it”,  says  Butler.  “One of the purest indicators of economic struggles by families is their use of food banks. Why government would turn a blind eye to this piece of the poverty reduction is puzzling.”

MHA Butler raised the issue on the House of Assembly today, pointing out not only has the number of persons relying on food banks increased, but this province ranks the highest in terms of food bank usage across the country.  “We have 6 per cent of our population regularly accessing food from one of the province’s 28 food banks; and there is little doubt that this time of the year, food banks will be even more taxed.

“Combine the economic downturn and the fiscally challenging Christmas season, and I think that more and more people will face the reality of going to food banks. Already, there are food banks that are short on supplies and the problem will only worsen and government should be supporting their mandate.

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