By Bobbi Ann Brady, MPP
Since being first elected in 2022, I’ve been meeting with and hearing from organizations dedicated to tackling hunger. It’s a challenge that seems to keep growing in the midst of economic uncertainty, rising food prices, tariff woes, high rents…Sadly, this list could go on and on. Recently, I was provided by Feed Ontario their 2025 Hunger Report. To call the report concerning would be an understatement.
Feed Ontario is the largest collective of hunger-relief organizations in the province, representative of more than 1,200 food banks and hunger-relief organizations across Ontario. These organizations distribute millions of pounds of food to more than 1 million people each year.
Their latest report states for the ninth consecutive year, there’s been an increase in the number of people who cannot afford enough food for themselves or their families. In fact, they report Ontario’s food banks served over 1 million people who accessed food assistance programs over 8.7 million times.
In a part of Ontario that produces so much food, it’s ironic we have an increase in food bank use as well. From what I’ve heard from stakeholders, poking around the web, office meetings, and being out in public, Haldimand-Norfolk food bank usage in 2025 has also increased.
Everything points to increased demand, with rising numbers of families and employed individuals needing assistance due to high costs of living, much the same as national trends of surging food insecurity in Canada. It was hard to get numbers for each of our local food banks in time for my press deadline, but online research shows the Hagersville Food Bank had significant visits, with usage up 23 per cent compared to the previous year.
I know there were times in my own life, and the lives of some friends and colleagues when things were financially strained and food budgets were very tight. Fortunately, we were able to make ends meet with serious cutbacks in other areas and put a sometimes spartan meal on the table.
There are so many reasons why folks can find themselves in these financial jams. Sometimes it’s job loss or debt load or divorce or health problems or even addiction. A colleague recounted to me how his friend who was suffering from terminal cancer and living on ODSP had mentioned that he was considering visiting a food bank. Happily, my colleague stepped up to help his friend in the form of multiple free meals. My point is, food insecurity is all around us.
Perhaps this Christmas season, if you have the means, make a financial donation because these food banks can make dollars stretch further. I know times are challenging for most everyone, so all I’m saying is if you can help, please do.
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all the food banks in Haldimand-Norfolk for the great work you do. And finally, a shout out to the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO). The CFO Cares Food Bank Donation Program has stepped up to the plate, literally and figuratively, and donated 13.7 million chicken meals to food banks across the province.
I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk