Mississauga Declares Food Insecurity Emergency, Calls for Provincial and Federal Action

Mississauga – In a significant move, Mississauga City Council declared food insecurity an emergency Wednesday, aiming to address what Mayor Carolyn Parrish describes as an “unacceptable and unsustainable” situation affecting thousands of residents. The formal declaration underscores the city’s position that food insecurity is no longer a short-term crisis but a persistent and worsening issue impacting many vulnerable citizens.

This step comes as food banks in Mississauga struggle to keep up with unprecedented demand. Food Banks Mississauga, the city’s primary food security organization, now serves one in 13 residents, a significant increase from one in 37 in 2019. Over the past year, the organization has provided more than 9 million pounds of food, with nearly a third of it going to children. The council’s declaration highlights Mississauga’s rapid rise in food bank usage, which has outpaced the provincial average, largely due to escalating living costs and insufficient government support for basic needs.

Today, Mississauga City Council passed a motion to declare food insecurity an emergency in the City of Mississauga.

This formal declaration is a monumental step in recognizing that food insecurity has gone beyond crisis levels and is not a temporary issue.

Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/70UXJ7R9qe

— City of Mississauga (@citymississauga) November 13, 2024

“Mississauga has the fastest-growing rate of food bank users in the province – exceeding the provincial average – and the number continues to grow with each passing year,” said Parrish. “This situation is unacceptable and unsustainable. While food banks continue to fill a critical gap, this is a broader issue that they – and we – can’t solve alone, and it’s not just a Mississauga problem.” Parrish emphasized the need for provincial and federal cooperation to address the root causes and structural issues that drive food insecurity.

The motion passed by the council includes calls for concrete actions at all government levels, such as:

• Urging the federal and provincial governments to also declare food insecurity an emergency.
• Enhancing Ontario’s social assistance programs to reflect current economic conditions.
• Expanding affordable and supportive housing options.
• Implementing stronger labor laws and enhanced worker support programs to build a more resilient workforce.
• Supporting the Groceries and Essentials Benefit proposed by Food Banks Canada, which aims to assist households in meeting essential needs, like food and shelter.

The Groceries and Essentials Benefit, a key proposal endorsed by Mississauga’s council, would adjust the GST/HST credit to provide immediate financial support to struggling households. This targeted approach, developed by Food Banks Canada, intends to prevent families from falling deeper into poverty by offering rapid relief to those in greatest need.

Between June 2023 and May 2024, Food Banks Mississauga and its 60+ agency network experienced a nearly 80 percent surge in food bank visits, assisting more than 56,000 visitors, many of whom are facing financial difficulties from rising costs for housing, fuel, and other essentials. As the organization prepares for further increases in demand, experts project that one in four Canadians will soon need community program assistance.

Mississauga’s declaration not only raises awareness of the urgent need for stronger poverty reduction policies but also marks a step toward comprehensive, long-term solutions that go beyond food distribution. Local leaders, advocacy groups, and residents are now looking to provincial and federal officials for collaborative efforts to address food insecurity and ensure that residents can meet their basic needs in the years to come.

For more information on the Groceries and Essentials Benefit or to support Food Banks Mississauga’s efforts, residents are encouraged to visit the organization’s website at www.foodbanksmississauga.ca.

SOURCE City of Mississauga