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The Big Story

Why more Canadians will be hungry this holiday

Oct 11, 2024
In this discussion with Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, a leading expert on food insecurity, the alarming rise of hunger in Canada is laid bare. Almost 23% of households struggle to access food, exacerbated by the pandemic and inflation. She critiques the reliance on food banks as a temporary fix, arguing systemic change is essential. The conversation also explores the disparity between holiday feasts and the plight of those in need, urging community action and policy reform to address the root causes of this growing crisis.
23:46

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Quick takeaways

  • The rising food insecurity in Canada, affecting 22.9% of households largely due to inflation, necessitates urgent policy interventions.
  • Food banks, while vital, are insufficient to address the root causes of food insecurity, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions.

Deep dives

Rising Food Insecurity Statistics

As of 2023, approximately 22.9% of Canadians are living in food insecure households, reflecting a troubling trend that indicates rising levels of food insecurity. This statistic highlights the reality that a significant portion of the population struggles to afford basic food needs, and recent reports suggest that the situation has only worsened since then, largely due to ongoing inflation. The seriousness of this issue is exacerbated by the continued economic fallout of the pandemic, which did not alleviate but rather intensified food insecurity levels across the country. Dr. Terasuk emphasizes that these numbers reveal not only the scope of the problem but also the deep impact inflation has on individuals' ability to secure adequate nutrition, pointing towards a crisis that demands greater attention and action from policymakers.

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