Thank you very much.
As I mentioned in my initial remarks, there continue to be groups of Canadians who have been left behind.
Mr. Blaikie spoke about the issue of the disability benefit, as we have. Again, Parliament has moved on that legislation. Now the program needs to be funded in a way that is adequate, to raise those with disabilities above the market basket measure for poverty in this country. It needs to be accessible to those who need it and not subject to clawback. That's an area where, again, many Canadians continue to fall through the cracks.
On issues of immigration, we continue to see individuals who come to this country and are not able to easily connect with the labour market, education and training. That's driving many of them to food banks. In the case of Winnipeg, at times in this past year, over half of all our new food bank clients fell into that category.
The third is particularly geared to our organization. In this province, first nations, Métis and Inuit—particularly on reserve and in remote communities, but also our urban indigenous population—continue to have health outcomes and food security outcomes that are far behind those of the general population.
Although steps have been taken to improve the lives of many, there are some really key demographics in Manitoba that continue to fall behind, and stay behind, where they need to be to meet their food security needs.