Thank you.
Good morning, members of the committee. Thank you for granting us the opportunity to address you today.
I sit before you to speak to the cost of living crisis we are currently facing in Canada.
The Mustard Seed began helping the homeless in 1975. Since that time, we have grown programming that now serves 75 additional non-profit agencies through our food rescue program. As well, we run a food bank, and we have meal programs and a hospitality centre for people seeking community and a hot meal. We are also partnering with Flourish School Food Society to deliver hot, scratch-cooked meals, cooked in our very own kitchen, to hundreds of school-aged children.
In 2022 we rescued 2.6 million pounds of food from grocery partners. Using Food Banks Canada's valuation of $3.52 a pound, that is over 9.1 million dollars' worth of food moving through our warehouse.
Every day our team is honoured to do this work and we know this food impacts tens of thousands, yet it is simply not enough. Since 2019, food bank use in Canada has increased 78.5%. Make no mistake—this is the highest level of food bank use in 40 years of operating in our country. Food Banks Canada's “HungerCount” revealed just under two million visits to food banks in March 2023 alone.
The cost of living in Canada continues to rise to unsustainable levels for many average-income earners, and these people are turning to food banks. In fact, for the first time, there are more employed people working full time who are accessing our services. The increase in working poor individuals and families has been one of the most concerning trends we've seen in 2023.
Simply put, the cost of living crisis has Canadians choosing to pay their rent instead of buying groceries, an impossible choice, with the reality of being unable to make ends meet. We are seeing more people than ever turning to food banks, and there is no indication that this is going to slow down anytime soon.
Thirty-three per cent of food bank users are children. While representing only 20% of our population, children are disproportionately affected by hunger, which has far-reaching implications for their development, learning potential and ability to thrive. That is why our region has been focused on developing a school meal program that currently feeds over 600 students.
In 2021 a commitment was made by the federal government in the mandate letters of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. We are still expecting the federal government to live up to the commitment in the 2024 budget.
I have included a proposal from the Coalition for Healthy School Food for the Government of Canada to work in partnership with provinces and territories, indigenous peoples and non-profit organizations to develop and implement a national school nutritious meal program and related school food policies in support of and in line with the evolving food policy for Canada.
A key factor in the success of these initiatives is that these programs need to be delivered by groups that understand the unique needs of the regions in which they operate. In short, funding needs to reach the local level. Otherwise, it is not as effective in delivering solutions that work.
In these trying times, food banks play an indispensable role in keeping food on the tables of millions. This is a monumental task, delivered largely by non-profits with incredible funding restraints. Multi-year funding for our food bank network is paramount. Most of these organizations are small and largely volunteer-driven. We appeal to donors for the bulk of our funding and leverage wholesale buying power where we can. Unfortunately, our donors are also struggling with these very same issues.
Considering “HungerCount 2023”, it is clear that for this sector there is no end in sight concerning these issues. We recognize that food banks are the proverbial canary in the coal mine for the cost of living crisis. I have forwarded supporting documents from Food Banks Canada with recommendations for a multipronged approach, which includes providing rental supports and increasing housing for post-secondary students, for instance.
As a fellow Canadian, I believe in our capacity to rise to the occasion, and I am fighting for a Canada in which no one goes hungry and every child has access to nutritious food.
In conclusion, the urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. I appeal to this esteemed committee to allocate the necessary funding for these initiatives in the 2024 federal budget, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your time today.