October 27, 2022
Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario via email: doug.fordco@pc.ola.org
Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health via email: sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org
Hon. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services via email: Merrilee.Fullertonco@pc.ola.org
Dear Premier Ford, Deputy Premier and Minister Jones, and Minister Fullerton:
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) is the independent and official voice of Registered Dietitians working in Ontario’s public health system. We are writing to you, as newly re-elected leaders of the Province of Ontario, to express serious concern about the 2.34 million Ontarians who experienced household food insecurity in 2021.1 The situation has undoubtedly worsened in 2022 with an extraordinary rate of food inflation. In Ontario, the price of food purchased from stores in September 2022 was 11.5% higher than in September 20212, rising at a rate not seen since the early 1980s.
Household food insecurity (HFI) is inadequate or insecure access to food due to household financial constraints. HFI is an urgent public health, human rights, and social justice problem that, if not addressed, will continue to have serious consequences to Ontario’s economic progress as well as the health and well-being of citizens. We strongly urge the Ontario government to adopt policies, as outlined in Provincial Policy Levers to Reduce Household Food Insecurity3, proven to effectively reduce HFI:
- Higher minimum wage rates
- Increasing social assistance rates
- Reducing income tax rates for the lowest income households.
The health consequences of food insecurity are a large burden on our province’s healthcare system. Not being able to afford food has serious adverse effects on people’s physical and mental health and the ability to lead productive lives. Ontarians living with food insecurity are at greater risk for numerous chronic conditions including mental health disorders, non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease), and infections.1 People who have chronic conditions and are food insecure are more likely to have negative disease outcomes, be hospitalized, or die prematurely.1 Policies that effectively reduce food insecurity could offset considerable public expenditures on healthcare in Ontario.
Ontarians receiving social assistance have an extremely high risk for food insecurity. In 2021, 67.2% of Ontario households reliant on social assistance were food insecure.1 Benefits are inadequate to meet recipients’ basic needs. When people are not able to meet their basic needs, they cannot achieve the physical, mental and social well-being needed to sustain long-term employment. In a province as wealthy as Ontario, it is unacceptable and unjust that Ontario Works (OW) rates are not based on the actual costs of living, are not indexed to inflation, and do not protect vulnerable citizens from living in dire situations without the money they need to buy food. While Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates have increased by 5% and are now indexed to inflation, this is no where near enough to protect ODSP recipients from food insecurity.
Having a job is not necessarily protective against food insecurity. In 2021, 48.2% of food insecure households in Ontario reported wages, salaries, or self-employment as their household’s main source of income.1 The high prevalence of food insecurity among those in the workforce reflects precarious and low-paying jobs and multi-person households with a single income-earner.4
Food charity is NOT a solution to the problem of HFI. Food banks may provide temporary food relief but do not address the persistent problem of inadequate income.5 Only about one-quarter of households experiencing food insecurity go to food banks and for those who do use them, food insecurity does not go away.6
Individuals and families struggling to put food on the table also struggle to afford other basic needs. HFI is a sign of deprivation, rooted in inadequate and unstable incomes that have not kept pace with the costs of living. ODPH strongly encourages the Government of Ontario to adopt income-based policy solutions that effectively reduce food insecurity. You have the power to make our province a better place for all Ontarians to lead healthier and happier lives.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Smith
Co-Chair ODPH Executive
Erin Reyce, RD
Co-Chair, Food Insecurity Workgroup
cc.
Peter Tabuns, MPP Toronto−Danforth, Leader, Official Opposition and Leader, New Democratic Party of Ontario via email tabunsp-qp@ndp.on.ca
France Gélinas, MPP Nickel Belt, Health Critic via email: gelinas-qp@ndp.on.ca
Chandra Pasma, MPP Ottawa-West Nepean, Poverty and Homelessness Reduction Critic via email: CPasma- CO@ndp.on.ca
Laura Mae Lindo, MPP Kitchener-Centre, Anti-Racism and Equity Critic via email: LLindo-QP@ndp.on.ca
Monique Taylor, MPP Hamilton Mountain, Children, Community and Social Services Critic via email: MTaylor- QP@ndp.on.ca
John Fraser, MPP Ottawa South, Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party via email: jfraser.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Mike Schreiner, MPP Guelph, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario via email: mschreiner@ola.org
Loretta Ryan, Executive Director, Association of Local Public Health Agencies via email: loretta@alphaweb.org John Atkinson, Executive Director, Ontario Public Health Association via email: jatkinson@opha.on.ca
info@odph.ca @RDsPubHealthON
References:
- Tarasuk V, Li T, Fafard St-Germain AA. (2022). Household food insecurity in Canada, 2021. Toronto: Research to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF). Retrieved 20Sept2022 from https://proof.utoronto.ca/.
- Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0004-03 Consumer Price Index, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse and Yellowknife — Food DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/1810000401-eng.
- Food Insecurity Policy Research (PROOF). Provincial Policy Levers to Reduce Household Food Insecurity [webpage online]. Retrieved 20Sept2022 from: https://proof.utoronto.ca/resource/provincial-policy-levers-to- reduce-household-food-insecurity/.
- Tarasuk V. Implications of a basic income guarantee for household food insecurity. Northern Policy Institute – Research Paper No. 24. Retrieved 20Sept2022 from: https://proof.utoronto.ca/wp- content/uploads/2017/06/Paper-Tarasuk-BIG-EN-17.06.13-1712.pdf.
- Ontario Dietitians in Public Health. (2020). Position Statement and Recommendations on Responses to Food Insecurity. Retrieved 20Sept2022 from https://www.odph.ca/upload/membership/document/2021- 04/ps-eng-corrected-07april21_3.pdf.
- Food Insecurity Policy Research (PROOF). What can be done to reduce food insecurity in Canada? [webpage online]. Retrieved 20Sept2022 from: https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/what-can-be-done- to-reduce-food-insecurity-in-canada/.
