Kingston’s city council has declared food insecurity an emergency, highlighting a growing crisis affecting many residents in the area.
Kingston: Last week, Kingston’s city council took a big step by declaring food insecurity an emergency. This makes Kingston the third city in Ontario to do so recently.
During the council meeting, they discussed how more and more people are struggling to get enough food. The numbers are pretty alarming, with KFL&A Public Health reporting that one in three people in the area are facing food insecurity now, up from one in nine just last year.
Coun. Brandon Tozzo, who pushed for this motion, shared that the situation has worsened significantly this year. It’s not just a problem in his district; it’s affecting the whole city.
Ruth Noordegraaf, who works in community development, pointed out that social assistance rates haven’t kept up with inflation. A single adult currently gets $733 a month, which is just not enough to live on.
Coun. Greg Ridge highlighted the growing demand for food assistance, noting that St. Vincent De Paul provided nearly 47,000 meals this year, a huge jump from just over 18,000 in 2019.
He also shared a personal story about his own childhood experience with food insecurity, which really hit home for many in the room. It’s clear that these experiences leave a lasting impact.
The motion calls on the Ontario government to raise social assistance rates, boost funding for school food programs, and work towards a universal school food program. They’re also asking for a guaranteed livable basic income to help tackle this issue.
This motion will be sent to key political figures, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as well as local MPs and MPPs.
Kingston follows Mississauga and Toronto in making this declaration, showing that food insecurity is a growing concern across Ontario. Mississauga’s mayor has already pointed out that food banks can’t solve this problem alone; it needs a broader approach to address the root causes.
