Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I visited eight food banks in my riding of Beauséjour—Petitcodiac.
To my dismay, I learned that demand has gone up in food banks over the last five years. The reasons are inadequate pay cheques, single parent families and, the biggest reason of all, EI cuts. Thousands of unemployed workers have no choice but to go to food banks.
Moreover, I learned that the Department of Human Resources Development is creating a dependence on food banks in New Brunswick by forcing people to turn to these banks instead of providing them with financial assistance. While this Liberal government continues to help the rich get richer, poor families are falling further and further behind.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate food bank co-ordinators on the wonderful and much appreciated work they do.