--and seniors and children remain disproportionately at risk.
Regardless of which side of the political spectrum the people in this room may sit on, I can't imagine there's a single one of us who considers it an acceptable situation to still have conditions in 21st century Canada that Seebohm Rowntree would recognize from his own report of 110 years ago.
The problem of hunger in Canada is very closely related to a shortage of decent housing that is affordable to Canadians with low incomes. So what can we do? I have already noted that we could improve the accountability framework of the money that's already on the table. It's probably less than what we need, so let's make sure we spend it wisely.
Let's also set the housing agenda in the broader context of jobs and incomes and in terms of the economic benefits housing development brings.
But beyond that, let's not forget for one moment that this country continues to suffer under the blight of real poverty that leaves children without enough to eat. It is something we should not be prepared to live with.
Thank you.