By R. Landriau For many of us we do not think twice about going and grabbing a snack. We simply walk to our cupboards and open them to find food at our fingertips. We do not take the time to question whether or not we will have food, we simply know it will be there. In 2018 across Canada more that 4.4 million Canadians did not know if food would be there when they went to grab a snack. This meant that on average 1 out of every 8 households was food insecure. Food insecurity is the inadequate access or uncertain access to food due to financial constraints. It can be classified in three categories ranging from least to most severe. Marginal food insecurity is where there is a worry that food will run out or limited food selection, moderate food insecurity is where a compromise in the quality and quantity of food has been made, and finally severe food insecurity is where meals are missed, food intake is reduced, and at the most extreme go day(s) without food.
Canada has shown concerning increasing trends in the number of Canadians facing food insecurity. In 2007, 3.4 million Canadians faced food insecurity, fast forward a decade and that number has now grown by a million, all the way up to 4.4 million people facing food insecurity. Another concerning trend is the increase in severity of insecurity, with the majority of food insecure people in the moderate category. Since 2018 a lot has changed about the world, with the global pandemic COVID-19. As a result of lockdowns, closures of businesses, absence of paid sick leave, minimum wages instead of a living wage, and increasing unemployment rates, there has been an increase in financial insecurity for Canadians. This financial stress and uncertainty have also increased the number of Canadians who are facing food insecurity. In 2020 the amount of Canadian households who were food insecure jumped from 1 in 8 to 1 in 7, meaning that hundreds of thousands of Canadians were under food stress. Canadians who were absent from work due to COVID-19 were almost three times more likely to be food insecure than those who had job stability and could work throughout the pandemic. Food vulnerability is an intersectional issue There are numerous factors which affect the vulnerability of households to food insecurity, one of which is the racial/cultural group that an individual belongs to. In Canada Black and Indigenous people face the highest rates of food insecurity at 28.5% of households facing insecurity. Location also greatly impacts the food security of households. In Canada the highest rates of food insecurity are found within the territories, Yukon at 16.9%, the Northwest Territories at 21.6% and Nunavut facing by far the highest rates in Canada at 57% of households being food insecure. Food insecurity in the North is a multifaceted issue. Traditionally Indigenous peoples rely on a combination of hunted and trapped (wild) and marketed food, however, both harvesting, and food shipping costs are extremely high. Perishable items such as fresh fruits and vegetables are very difficult to find and when found are extremely expensive to buy, causing them to not be a viable option for people in the North. Government policies and programs lack proper coordination to adequately address subsidizing in order to lower the cost of food in Northern communities to Canadian average prices. Other factors which contribute to food vulnerability in Canada include renting versus owning a home. People who rent their accommodations were found to be three times more likely to be food insecure than those who are owners of the accommodations. Households with children or seniors have a higher likelihood of being food insecure than households without. Canadians reliant on social programs such as social assistance, employment insurance and workers’ compensation all faced higher percentages of food insecurity than Canadians who did not rely on these programs. Food insecurity takes a tremendous toll on people’s health, not only the lack of adequate nutrition and proper nutrition but the mental health concerns as well. The risk of experiencing declining mental health increases as food insecurity increases, indicating that the two are tightly correlated with one another. Canadian actions on food security In Canada there is a clear recognition of food security issues rooted in inadequate income, and to address these concerns there needs to be a multi tiered solution.
Sources: Food Secure Canada. (N.D). Affordable food in the North. Accessible at: https://foodsecurecanada.org/resources-news/news-media/we-want-affordable-food-north Government of Canada. Statistics Canada (2020). Food Insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessible at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/201216/dq201216d-eng.htm Government of Canada. Statistics Canada (2020). Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, May 2020. Accessible at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00039-eng.htm PROOF. Food insecurity policy research (N.D). Household Food Insecurity in Canada. Accessible at: https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/
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By Marina de Pina-Jenkins (@unaterra.ca) https://unaterra.ca/5-easy-ways-to-be-a-responsible-canadian-consumer Creating a positive impact in our communities becomes a habit that is a pleasure to maintain and not a challenge as many people seem to think. It can be very fulfilling to live in a way that uplifts our communities, connects us to the land and brings health to ourselves and others. Food choices are one of the most important ways we can make a positive change in our ecological impact because it is usually one of the greatest sources of emissions in our country (including land use, water use and waste). Here are 5 easy ways to help you to become a more responsible consumer as an urban Canadian. Buy Small Scale Local Buying local is less about the carbon emissions from transportation as some people may think and more about bringing economic sustainability to our communities. Local businesses are more likely to donate to local causes, employ local people, shop and give their business to other local businesses and more. The manner in which food is produced has a way larger impact than how far it travels, so if you have the option, try to choose organic or regenerative farming (even if it’s imported from abroad) than conventional industrially produced foods made locally. The best food options to support are small scale, local farmers using organic or regenerative farming practices. Buy Direct From Farmers For urban Canadians, this is a great way to support local agriculture systems that don’t get enough support from government funding. If it’s in your means some options include a farmers market, purchase from a co-op or consider joining a CSA program this year. A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a food distribution system that enables food lovers to support local agriculture, give farmers job security, take care of the environment and guarantee themselves a share of fresh, healthy local produce at a fair price. Grow Your Own Food The energy it takes to grow a single tomato is honestly astounding if you’ve never done it before. Growing your own food often leads to an immense change in perspective, values and ideas. There are almost too many benefits to mention here so I will list a few; being connected with the earth, the contact between our hands and soil increases our immune system health, the satisfaction of caring for something other than yourself, are just a few. Start with local herbs on your window sill, or a patio or if you rent, ask if you can grow from containers in the yard or outdoor space of your building. Reduce Overconsumption Seeking out locally seasonal foods (i.e. produced in the natural production season and consumed within the same climatic zone) does have ecological, economic and environmental benefits, however it should not take priority over habits that could have greater environmental and health benefits to our society such as reducing waste. Overconsumption leads to more food waste, more Donate If You Aren’t Ready To Change Your Habits If you can afford the time or finances, volunteering or donating is a seriously impactful way to be a responsible member of our community. If you aren’t quite ready to take the leap on changing your habits, or perhaps you’ve done all of the above, please consider supporting a charity that works on food security, urban gardening or perhaps a community garden project. Sources: https://eatlocal.org/programs/csa-box-program/ Macdiarmid, J. (2014). Seasonality and dietary requirements: Will eating seasonal food contribute to health and environmental sustainability? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 73(3), 368-375. doi:10.1017/S0029665113003753 |