By Patrick Conway Chiasson
The present system in place to protect low-income families from the negative effects of poverty is multi-faceted. Included in this system are Ontario Works, the provincial welfare agency, and the Ontario Food Banks. The first two of the three programs are intended to protect vulnerable and marginalized citizens from the effects of an unequal distribution of wealth. They form the basis of the Canadian social safety net, and the image of Ontario as a “welfare state” as created in the 1960s.
Conversely, the Ontario Food Banks were introduced in the 1980s by private citizens’ initiatives and religious organizations to deal with the particularly devastating recession during that age. Food banks were intended as a stopgap measure at the time, but they have evolved over time to become generally accepted as part of the social safety net. I challenge the necessity of continuing to deny low-income citizens of healthy food and of continuing the psychological trauma that food banks naturally engender.
“The Stop” is a food bank and kitchen in Toronto that works to deliver a better standard of living to those who cannot afford healthy food. In its largely-volunteer-run kitchen, The Stop teaches cooking and nutrition to children and adults, and provides healthy meals to locals. The fact is that Ontario Works does not provide enough support to individuals to properly meet their nutritional needs. Part of this is due to low levels of Ontario Works disbursements (approx. $570/month) and part of this is due to the difficulty of receiving Special Diet allowances with Ontario Works. However, it should be noted that The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty has worked diligently in their effort to improve accessibility to Special Diet allowances and for this, deserve respect for their efforts.
The truth is that the current system in place is failing to ensure all citizens can access healthy food. With the meager monthly disbursements from Ontario Works barely covering housing costs, many must resort to finding food at their local food banks. The psychological burden of continued dependence on food banks is felt most by low-income and single-parent families. Without the resources to emerge from the poverty trap, these citizens are denigrated into second-class status.
“The Stop”’s Green Barn Project is at the forefront of raising awareness for food security issues and reversing the trend of increasing dependence on food banks. The Green Barn is in a converted industrial building in Toronto and offers many services to the community. As well as providing fresh and organic produce to The Stop food bank and kitchen, the Green Barn serves as a space for an after-school program for youth in the community. In the Green Barn, children and youth learn about food security from the ground up. They help plant seeds, promote plant growth and learn valuable lessons about our eco-system and the food supply. They are also taught basic cooking skills and nutrition. However, the Green Barn remains in large part supported by private donations. There is thus a clear role for the government or public sector to play. In order to more properly meet the needs of all citizens to access clean and healthy food and water, the government of Ontario should promote association-building between schools, farms and food banks along the lines of the model used at The Stop Green Barn. If we can teach the next generation of the importance of food security, in the long-term we will strengthen the social-safety net to the benefit of all Ontario citizens.
(For more information on this issue please visit dothemath.org)
