TORONTO, June 27,
2024 /CNW/ - Nearly nine million people in
Canada face the daily challenge of
food insecurity, a crisis demanding urgent and innovative
solutions. In response, Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) has
launched "Food Security Now," an online tool that equips
communities with localized data on poverty and food insecurity.
Food Security Now is a comprehensive digital resource that
provides detailed, riding-specific data on poverty and food
insecurity across Canada.
Available in both English and French, the tool offers essential
statistics on poverty rates segmented by various factors, including
Indigenous status, disability status, racialized groups,
immigration status, family type, and more.
This new resource empowers community members, policymakers, and
CFCC's network of over 350 partners to advocate effectively for
targeted solutions and work collectively to reduce food insecurity
and poverty across Canada.
"Any level of food insecurity is too high in a country as rich
as Canada," says Nick Saul, CEO of CFCC. "We've seen an increase
in food insecurity across the board. Every day, nearly 1 in 4
people in Canada worry about food
because they don't have enough money. This alarming increase really
underscores the urgent need for immediate solutions and inspired
the Food Security Now tool. At CFCC, we believe that knowledge is
power, and when communities have access to localized data, they can
better advocate for change."
The Food Security Now tool serves as a catalyst for community
action. It provides accessible, localized data that enables users
to share relevant information with their local MPs to better inform
political decisions and address the unique challenges within their
communities.
Key Data Highlights include:
- Poverty Rates: Across Canada, 3.8 million people live in poverty,
with 8.7 million experiencing food insecurity.
- Regional Disparities: PEI and Nova Scotia have the highest rates of food
insecurity at 29 per cent, while Quebec, with the lowest rate, still has 16 per
cent of its population affected.
- Disproportionate Impact: Food insecurity
disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples, racialized
communities, people with disabilities, immigrants, renters, and
single individuals aged 18 to 64.
- Systemic Inequities: Racialized people are nearly twice
as likely to live in poverty compared to non-racialized
individuals, with the Eastern provinces seeing racialized people
three times more likely to live in poverty.
CFCC invites people to join the movement for food security by
visiting foodsecuritynow.ca or actionsecuritealimentaire.ca.
Users can search their addresses to find detailed information about
poverty and food insecurity in their ridings. They can also email
their MPs directly with this crucial localized data to drive
collective action and urge their federal representatives to
implement progressive income policies.
CFCC further calls on the federal government to commit to
reducing food insecurity by 50 per cent by 2030, relative to 2021
levels. This requires significant investments in robust income and
social policies that address poverty at its root, as well as
strengthen the social safety net, including Employment Insurance
and affordable housing.
CFCC is equipping community members across Canada with the information and tools
necessary to advocate for change, while also doing its part to push
for systemic solutions at the national level.
For More Information
To learn more about Food Security Now and how you can contribute
to the fight against food insecurity, visit foodsecuritynow.ca.
About Community Food Centres Canada
At the heart of Community Food Centres Canada's work is the
belief that food is a basic right. We bring people together around
good food to help communities thrive. With more than 350 partners
across the country, we build inclusive, culturally responsive
spaces, share knowledge, create health-focused programs, and
advocate for equitable policy change.
SOURCE Community Food Centres Canada