A new report from Food Banks Canada says the country is in a food insecurity crisis and is giving Newfoundland and Labrador poor marks when it comes to addressing the issue.
While some improvements have been seen, the province gets a failing grade for the number of people who spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, and those on income support who say rates are not keeping up with the cost of living.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians spend more than 61 per cent of their income on essentials – the highest percentage in all of Atlantic Canada and among the worst in the country – a level that remained persistently high since 2023.
While the province has introduced some affordability measures, including improvements to income support and minimum wage rates, “key structural challenges remain.” The report highlights a 71 per cent increase in waitlists for social housing since 2021, a drop in the number of units available, and rising rent.
Food Banks Canada says while the Wakeham government has reiterated its commitment to affordability, no timeline has been provided for the release of a promised strategy, and measures taken to date don’t reflect the “comprehensive poverty reduction approach outlined in its election campaign platform.
