The report ranks each state and territory. We call for bold collective action from governments. Develop a measurable poverty reduction roadmap
TORONTO, May 22, 2024 /CNW/ – Canada is at a critical tipping point as poverty and food insecurity worsen in every corner of the country, but Food Banks Canada's new 2024 Despite the scale of the crisis, most governments are not responding with the necessary urgency, according to the Poverty Report Card.
According to Food Banks Canada's 2024 Poverty Report Card, nearly half (44 per cent) of people nationwide feel worse off financially than last year, and one in four people experience food insecurity. , all but one state failed in the affordable housing section of the report. As a result of these important findings, Food Banks Canada has downgraded its federal rating from D in 2023 to D- in 2024.
“Food Banks Canada's 2024 Poverty Report Card shows that from coast to coast, Canadians are struggling to withstand rising costs of living. These results are sadly not surprising to the thousands of food banks across the country, which have seen a 50 per cent increase in visitor numbers since 2021,” said Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada. explain. “Working together at all levels of government and in all jurisdictions is the only effective way to reduce and reverse poverty and food insecurity,” Beardsley contends. “Canada Food Banks' 2024 Poverty Report Card makes clear that a sustained and collective effort by all governments is our best hope for real and lasting change.”
Governments in all regions are not providing much-needed emergency financial support
“Canada Food Banks introduced the annual Poverty Report Card in 2023 to provide a comprehensive overview of the poverty situation in Canada and to compare each government's progress over time. We are focused on providing concrete ways to improve and prioritize poverty reduction efforts,” said Phil. said Ozga, Chief Network and Government Relations Officer, Canada Food Banks.
“The majority of Canadian governments received a D- rating on the 2024 Poverty Report Card. Seven out of 10 provinces received a D- rating for insufficient efforts to reduce poverty. This means that neither province has demonstrated an acceptable level of poverty reduction efforts: Nova Scotia (D- in 2024, F in 2023) and Prince Edward Island (in 2024). C-, D+ in 2023) improved in 2023 thanks to improved focus on poverty reduction in legislation over the past year,” Ozga explains.
Although Quebec ranks slightly higher in poverty reduction efforts (C+) than most regions, policy measures taken in the past few years have not kept pace with rising costs of living, leading to a 's status has dropped from B-. In the North, housing and living costs are deepening community struggles, demonstrating the urgent need for collective action from governments.
Key findings from Canada's Food Banks' 2024 Poverty Report Card
Food Banks Canada's 2024 Poverty Report Card paints a devastating picture of how poverty disparately impacts people in every province and territory in Canada. The full Report Card series provides in-depth provincial, national and regional analysis and statistics, as well as updated interactive digital maps to hold governments to account.
state/territory
comprehensive evaluation
Main findings
Sample policy recommendations
british columbia
D+: Same as 2023
Grade F: Housing costs more than 47% – 39%
Grade F: Food insecurity increases by 30% in one year
Grade B: Progress in Law
Access policy recommendations
Introduce a new poverty reduction strategy that aims to reduce poverty by 50% by 2030. Index social security benefits and deductions for all states and increase social assistance rates for single people by at least 10%.
alberta
D-: Less than D in 2024
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 27%
Grade D-: I feel financially worse compared to last year – 47%
Grade F: Advances in Law
Access policy recommendations
Implement a state poverty reduction strategy. Extend temporary rental assistance benefits to all Albertans waiting for affordable housing.
northwest territories
Co., Ltd.
Grade F: Advances in Law
Access policy recommendations
Payments for Indexed Income Support, NWT Child Benefit and all other benefits will increase by 15% over the next three years. Develop formal municipal matching funds for rental construction and repairs.
Yukon
Co., Ltd.
Grade C: Advances in Law
Access policy recommendations
Introduce meaningful rent controls. Index and increase the Yukon Supplemental Allowance for people with disabilities receiving social assistance.
nunavut territory
Co., Ltd.
Grade D: Advancement in Law
Access Policy Recommendations
Increase and index child benefits in Nunavut. Converts the Senior Fuel Subsidy and Homeowner Fuel Rebate into a universal energy consumption rebate for low- and moderate-income households.
saskatchewan
D-: Less than D in 2023
Grade F: I feel financially worse compared to last year – 50%
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 28%
Grade F: Advances in Law
Access policy recommendations
Update and modernize the 2016 Poverty Reduction Strategy. Improve and index Saskatchewan's support programs.
Manitoba
D-: A significant drop from a C- in 2023
Rating C+: I feel financially worse off compared to last year – 39%
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 27%
Grade F: Spending more than 30% of income on housing – 40%
Access policy recommendations
Presents poverty reduction strategies for all Manitobans, with a special focus on single people and Indigenous peoples. Establishes a $100 million annual Manitoba Builds program modeled after the BC Builds program.
Ontario
D- : Same as 2023
Grade F: Spending 30% or more on housing – 46%
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 25%
Grade D-: Feeling worse off financially compared to last year – 47%
Access policy recommendations
Adopt a set of poverty reduction targets that will reduce poverty by 50% by 2030, in line with Canada's Poverty Reduction Strategy. Modernize the Ontario Factory Program and his ODSP.
quebec
C+: Lower than a B- in 2023
Grade C-: Percentage of people living with an inadequate standard of living –30%
Grade B: Food insecurity rate – 16%
Grade F: Spending 30% or more on housing – 41%
Access policy recommendations
Establish a new poverty reduction strategy with an ambitious goal of eliminating poverty by 2030. Establish equality in social assistance rates for persons with disabilities.
Newfoundland and Labrador
D- : Same as 2023
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 26%
Grade F: All indicators in section 1, including 50% who feel worse off financially compared to the previous year
Grade B: Advances in Law
Access policy recommendations
Implement extensive indexing of benefits and brackets. Pilot new employment initiatives targeting young people and the long-term unemployed. Expand basic income testing and partner with P.E.I.
New Brunswick
D-: Same as 2023
Grade F: Spending 30% or more on housing – 37%
Grade F: All indicators in Section 2, including poverty and food insecurity rates
Access policy recommendations
Revise the poverty reduction strategy within 120 days of the new government taking office. Establish formal rent control guidelines. Develop youth employment and training strategies.
nova scotia
D-: higher than F in 2023
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 29%
Grade F: I feel financially worse compared to last year – 57%
Rating B: Legislative progress
Access policy recommendations
Implements poverty reduction strategies: Eliminates copayments for state pharmacare programs; Increases and modifies the poverty reduction credit;
prince edward island
C-: Higher than D+ in 2023
Grade F: Food insecurity rate – 29%
Grade F: I feel financially worse compared to last year – 52%
Grade B: Progress in Law
Access policy recommendations
Establish a permanent affordable housing finance fund. We seek unanimous support from all federal political parties to support a guaranteed basic income test in PEI before the next federal election.
About food banks in Canada
Food Banks Canada works with a network of food banks around the world to provide national leadership to alleviate hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to supporting Canadians living with food insecurity. More than 5,100 food banks and community organizations have come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbors, and nearly 2 million people visited these organizations last March, according to the 2023 HungerCount report. It is said that he did. Over the past 10 years, as a system, we have raised and shared more than 1.4 billion pounds of food. Food Banks Canada also shared approximately $168 million in funding to maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity while advocating for a reduction in the need for food banks. . Our vision is clear. It's about creating a Canada where no one goes hungry. For more information, visit foodbankscanada.ca.
Source: Food Banks Canada
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