Mr. Speaker, “Feed the Children, a Report on Child Hunger in Calgary” identified there are at least 14,500 children who experience persistent or intermittent hunger in the city of Calgary.
The effects of child hunger are wide ranging and include psychological, economic and behavioural consequences. A number of community based programs designed to combat this problem are currently in place. However, despite their strengths and the dedicated work of many volunteers, gaps in the system continue to exist.
The federal government must take a proactive role in eliminating child hunger by providing tax cuts to low income and single parent families. The costs of leaving the issue of child hunger unaddressed are simply too high to be ignored.