Evidence of meeting #91 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was animal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Vice-President, Centrale des syndicats démocratiques
I don't know the figure off the top of my head.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
That $25 billion brings the total taken out of the fund by the government to $87 billion or $88 billion. That's a whole lot.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Thank you, Mr. Blaikie.
We will now go to Mr. McCauley for five minutes.
Welcome to our committee.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Thanks, Chair, and thanks very much, witnesses. I wish I could have a lot more than five minutes. Maybe I can grab some of you afterwards.
Ms. Wilson, I'm going to stick with you and chat with you a bit more. First of all, you probably know Marjorie Bencz from the Edmonton food bank, an absolute gem and such an important part of our city. Thank you for doing very similar work, I guess, to what Ms. Bencz does.
I'm going to ask you some quick questions. This is not a partisan jab, but on the rebate, for lack of a better word, the grocery rebate, how do you think we could target it better? The reason I ask is that it goes out to about 11 million. One of my sons receives it. He lives on his own, but he is supported by the bank of dad. I imagine that there is a fair number of young people like this. We looked at other similar programs or benefits like that. The amount for single parents, for example, was only in the low teens. A lot was going to others.
How do you think we could better target it so that those truly in need receive that?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
One thing we recognize is that often people who are accessing food banks don't have the means to file their taxes. That's often a hurdle for people. Definitely, recognizing that, automatic filing would make a significant difference—
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Can I just interrupt you on that? Do you think we should do the same with the GIS for seniors? Right now, unless they file for the GIS, a senior will not get it, and the government will not pay back more than 11 months. Should we be doing that more as a government?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
Absolutely. Unfortunately, the reality is that we are not all on an equal playing field when it comes to access to technology and the Internet and the language skills required to navigate through some of the processes that are required in order to access some of these funds.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
How much of an increase are you seeing in seniors visiting?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
Our seniors number has actually levelled off this year. We did see a significant increase last year, but this year it has basically levelled off.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Do you know why it might have levelled off? It leads into my next question. I want to see if you know what demographic is driving this large increase in demand at the food bank. It ties in to your comment about how we need to have more income-based solutions. Unemployment is effectively almost zero in the city. If we have a strong employment base and therefore a strong income base, what is driving such a massive increase? Is it just the near-out-of-control food inflation costs coupled with the housing inflation costs?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
That is what we are hearing consistently from people accessing food banks. It is the cost of food and the cost of housing coupled together that are making it completely unaffordable for families, individuals and seniors.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Can you guess how much it might be housing driven and how much is food inflation driven?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
I don't think I could make a guess, but I certainly could look at that.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
You could say that a huge amount of it is driven by our housing crisis, our rental price crisis and food inflation.
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
Here in Ottawa, the affordable housing list is about five years' long, with 12,000 people on it. That undoubtedly has to impact people's ability to afford living here.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Yes, I can't imagine it here. We have more stable pricing in Edmonton, but it's still very difficult. Ottawa is now I think 50% to 60% higher than Edmonton, so I can't imagine what it's doing for the people here.
What about veterans? In Edmonton, we have a wonderful organization near my office called the Veterans Association Food Bank. We try to help them out, but it's mind-boggling that a country this wealthy has veterans who are visiting food banks.
Are you seeing an increase in veterans as well?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
That's actually not information that we track through our Link2Feed, so I wouldn't be able to comment on that.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
How much of it do you think is mental health driven and perhaps some of the drug crisis that we're seeing?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
We do have numbers on what is driving the numbers on mental health, and I can submit that afterwards as well.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
That's wonderful.
You mentioned that there are a lot more people visiting the food bank who are on support programs. Is that provincial support programs?
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Food Bank
It is. I recognize that it's provincial supports.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Again, going back to the question, we have almost maxed out employment. What is driving...? Is it the same number who are on provincial support and are now coming to you because of housing and rental costs?