Mr. Speaker, we have a new normal in Canada. Food banks are the lifeline for many Canadian families. The Liberals like to boast that they are helping families, but here is the reality: Food Banks Canada reports 2.2 million monthly visits this year, twice what it was six years ago. This is what their report says: “Behind every food bank visit is a story. A parent skipping meals so their kids can eat. A senior choosing between medication and groceries. A worker juggling multiple jobs and still coming up short.... These are not outliers.” According to the report, “This is Canada’s new normal.”
This bears out in my community as well, with 25 new families per month at the Langley Food Bank, 500 families served per month and over 1,400 individuals this year.
I want to thank the dedicated volunteers and donors who make the Langley Food Bank a great success story in a difficult environment made worse by the government's mismanagement of our economy. I thank the donors. I thank the volunteers.