Mr. Speaker, Tuesday's budget presented a $78.2-billion deficit, driving up prices and making life more expensive for families all across Canada. Food inflation is skyrocketing and made worse by the government's massive debts.
This year, food bank visits in Canada hit 2.2 million. Ten years ago, in Parry Sound—Muskoka, an idyllic rural collection of small communities where neighbours take care of each other, the food programs that were needed back then were Salvation Army food drives at holiday times. Today, there are 16 food-related charities in Parry Sound—Muskoka. From communities like Bracebridge and Huntsville, which are towns with three different food-distribution charities, to the many tiny communities of a few hundred people, like Argyle, Burk's Falls and Honey Harbour, food banks are essential lifelines in every corner of the riding. These small food programs in Parry Sound—Muskoka are struggling to keep up with the need.
As the amazing people of Parry Sound—Muskoka continue to support each other, they also beg the government to please stop making life so expensive for them and all their neighbours.