The executive director of the Bridges to Hope Food Bank says any money from excess oil revenues should go towards low-income families.
The province has banked north of $600-milllion in a windfall of excess oil revenues, far higher than what it had projected in its spring budget.
The government has already announced programs to temporarily cut the tax on some fuels, reduce power rates, give a bonus for seniors and support residents of northern Labrador.
(VOCM News)
Lesley Burgess says she’s hearing from several families that are struggling to make ends meet.
“I think I would spend it to support families,” she said.
“We are hearing all of the time how families are struggling, especially lower-income families, and so that’s where I would focus all of my efforts.”
Burgess says her food bank is struggling to give people the right amount of support they need.
“We will never be able to meet the demand in the way that we would truly like to be able to,” she said.
“The problem that we’re seeing now is the check that’s coming is not enough to cover even the basics. And so we’re seeing more people come back more often, which is straining our resources. Luckily, we have not had to turn anyone away yet, but it is slowly creeping up to that point.”
