Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Bibeau, I found your testimony exceptional and well structured. You are proposing concrete solutions. Thank you for that.
Food banks and the various Moisson organizations across Quebec are providing a concrete solution. They're part of the solution. We know that students and seniors are relying on them more and more. Newcomers with whom the moral contract has been broken are turning to food banks more and more. Thank you for your daily work on this issue.
I had Food Banks Canada representatives in my office. I had a very interesting discussion with your colleagues from Gatineau and Mauricie. I visited organizations, along with my fantastic Lynda and my team. I also visited Ressourcerie Bernard‑Hamel in Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, which does incredible work. They all told me about the importance of expanding their premises. In fact, everyone has plans to expand their premises. I suspect that must also be the case for your organization in the Eastern Townships.
Unfortunately, federal funding is not available. That was the case four or five years ago when I helped these people try to find a new space to move into. We turned to the local food infrastructure fund, which isn't adapted to food banks like yours. It allows for necessary expansion, but the production aspects included in the criteria are not suitable for food banks.
Should we review the program or make a new one? How can we finance the expansion of food banks? The need is there. You are the most concrete solution on the ground to prevent people from going hungry.