Governments Lack of Social Investment Showing at Food Banks

NL NDP
Oct 29, 2024
2 min read

For Immediate Release

October 29, 2024

Food bank use continues to rise with more and more people unable to afford basic needs. NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says successive governments’ refusal to invest in social services has played a major role in getting the province to this point.

A news article highlights how Bridges to Hope, a St. John’s based non-profit focused on addressing the most vulnerable in our community, has to take cost-cutting measures to ensure their food bank is stocked. Bridges to Hope says that the percentage of people using their food bank has jumped 30% since last year. Dinn says that this is just one effect of the lack of social investment.

“More people are hungry, that much is clear, and that number continues to rise. Food First NL reported that our province has the highest rate of food insecurity among the ten provinces in Canada. What is the government doing to address this?” questioned Dinn. “It cannot be just some one time cheque or pay out, it needs to be a change in how we fund our public services.”

It is clear to Dinn that this is just another symptom of the lack of social investment. To truly address the crisis we are facing, we must truly invest in the social determinants of health, as recommended by the Health Accord. That also includes reducing income inequality.

“I’ve spent time talking to people, whether it be at town halls or constituents calling into my office, and it is clear that there needs to be a fundamental change to how we address social services,” said Dinn. “It is one of the reasons we created the NL NDP Housing Plan. If people are spending 80% of their income on rent, how can they afford to eat? How are seniors on fixed income supposed to pay for their medications?

“Investment in non-market community housing. Investment in public transportation. Investment in income programs, such as GBLI, so that people can keep their heads above water. Ensuring the school lunch program expands into the high school grades. Access to public health care. These are all solutions that will help the overall crisis we are experiencing. But government needs to have the political will to act.”

-30-

For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca