On Tuesday, Food Banks Canada (the national association of food banks) released its annual Hunger Count report. While the report received some good national coverage (particularly on CBC), I was surprised to see no mention of it in the Vancouver Sun.
The report, which surveys food banks across the country every March, found that in March 2009, food bank use was up nearly 18% nationally, and 15% in BC –– the largest single-year jump and the highest number of people assisted on record. 81% of BC food banks reported an increase in demand in 2009. Of the nearly 90,000 British Columbians who relied on food banks that month, 31% were children, 12% reported employment income, 6% were on EI, 19% were receiving disability-related income support, and 44% were receiving social assistance (yet more proof that our welfare system is structurally dependent on food banks and other charities for people to meet their basic food needs).
Food bank usage had been in decline since 2004, until this year. And so, this report provides important evidence of the impact of the recession. We won’t have up-to-date poverty statistics for another year or so, so reports like this provide an early glimpse of how vulnerable people are impacted by the downturn.
If we are going to end hunger in our society, charity alone is not going to get the job done. We need an income support system and wages that ensure people can meet basic needs. And the report provides yet more evidence that both BC and Canada need comprehensive poverty reduction plans, something Food Banks Canada itself calls for in this report.
Milena // Nov 20, 2009 at 9:27 am
I completely agree with the last comment. I hate the whole culture of “giving” and “sponsoring a child in Africa” as an advertisement myth, and a model for solving complex social, political and economic issues. I don’t like it, it “others” the people receiving help, and creates an uncomfortable power dynamic.
As a person originally from a “developing” nation it’s always struck me that while I think charities are great and giving is great, and teaching your kids to sponsor a child in the 3rd world is great, it obscures and prevents understanding of what the real issues are and what the real solutions could be – it perpetuates what I would call, a modern, North American form of colonialism. Having the poor in our own backyard, and the poor across the world become dependent on aid, as opposed to all of us try and find economic solutions so that people can sustain themselves on fare wages and intrinsic economic development.
bruther // Nov 23, 2009 at 8:55 am
You noticed there was “no mention of it in the Vancouver Sun.” I’d be curious to find out how much mention there was of it in any of the Canwest outlets.
Basil // Jul 22, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Its a total shame. The Provincial Government gives billions to Gordon Campbell’s friends yet they take money from the least able to cope. Will the NDP do any better. The BC Liberals are corrupt and care little if any for the people on welfare you can see it in the Welfare Offices and if you keep your ears open it could shock you. Do the Government care, nope not in the least. All they do is work to help the friend of the BC Liberals and there families and friends, just look at who gets the contracts. When did we have a vote on the sale of BC Rail, never happened. why did the BC Liberals repeatedly seek out contractors from other Countries and ignore the telant we have here, namely the ship makers totally ignored. We need to stop keeping our head in the ground our crown corporations are being given away and BC Liberals bank accounts just get fatter, look who is making money and where is it going. Gambling is happening in BC Lotto only because the MLA who pushed it is getting kick backs. We are being scammed and the poor just get poorer. Its just not fair.