Food issues: out of mind if out of sight

Times Contributor 

 

Canadian food banks are non-profit organizations, which are dedicated to providing food to those in need through generous support from volunteers and sponsors.

As the demand for food banks are increasing, the volunteerism and charity given as the basis for the supply is not the solution, according to United Nations (UN) right-to-food envoy, Olivier De Schutter.

“(Food banks) are a symptom of failing social safety nets that the government must address,” he said.

De Schutter visited Canada for 11 days in May, 2012, to analyze the current food situation in Canada. In his findings, De Schutter reported that Canada withheld strong barriers to the poor populace in regards to access to a nutritional diet.

“Canada has long been seen as a land of plenty. Yet today one in 10 families with a child under six is unable to meet their daily food needs, people are simply too poor to eat decently,” said Schutter during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

According to the coordinator of the Alberta Food Bank Network Association, Jessi Evanoff, Alberta has yet to install a poverty action plan in the long-term perspective.

“Do I think (the government) needs to intervene more? Yes. How? That’s a tough one, there’s a variety of areas that would probably help in increasing people’s food security one being minimum wage and affordable housing,” said Evanoff.

Evanoff stated that basic necessities including food and housing can be made unattainable if the minimum wage isn’t up to par with the cost of living, which can draw a line, sometimes forcing people to make a decision.

“Sometimes is it am I going to have a roof over my head or am I going to eat tonight? And a lot of people who access our food banks are seniors, and their pensions don’t always cover the cost of living so they have a tough time,” she said.

Lorraine Fanning, from Wheatland County Food bank agreed that the government should do something about the cost of living so,” people aren’t forced to come to the food banks.”

Evanoff said the demand for food banks is on the rise and views the current food bank system as a quick fix to food shortages.

The debate continues as to whether the government should focus its attention externally to developing countries where food issues are more apparent, or turn its focus internally to the food problems that are more close to home.

Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, made the point that the focus should be external and that the UN’s Olivier De Schutter’s 11 day visit was a waste of time.  

“It would be our hope that the contributions we make to the United Nations are used to help starving people in developing countries, not to give lectures to wealthy and developed countries like Canada and I think this is a discredit to the United Nations,” said Kenney. 

Evanoff on the other hand, believes that solving Canadian food issues should be made a first priority. 

“Of course, global food insecurity is an issue but I think solving our country’s issues is key, we live in an extremely wealthy first world country, and the fact that the people in Canada do not have food does not make any sense because there is plenty to go around, and one, maybe we could short and long term figure that out for our country and extend it elsewhere,” Evanoff said. 

Evanoff views the issue as being more complex than simply getting food to the people, and that there are many faucets which contribute one to visiting a food bank.

“We need to reach out to other agencies, we need to figure out why someone is accessing the food bank, it could be addiction, it could be abuse in the family, joblessness or simply not having enough or the cost of living,” she said.

In the meantime, food banks across Canada are still reliant on the generosity of volunteers and from sponsors. Fundraisers will be picking up in the fall to prepare for the hard times during the holidays.

“Am I hopeful that we eventually we will be able to work towards some answers and some solutions. How long and when? That still remains to be seen,” said Evanoff.

Quotes for Olivier De Schutter and Jason Kenney from http://www.ctvnews.ca/feds-dismiss-un-envoy-s-findings-on-hunger-poor-diets-1.824015#ixzz1za3K9yTn