Instead of battling food insecurity, why not fix it? (Dec. 26)
Having recently read a most disappointing editorial in a local community paper, headlined 'Food banks are a permanent fixture,' it was refreshing to read one that points out the needed solutions, such as higher social assistance rates and living wages
In our wealthy country, ranked in the top five per cent in the world, it is surely not enough that we keep increasing the minimum wage incrementally as if this is a solution to the bigger problem.
A reminder that there are parts of the world where food banks are rare or do not exist, might be exemplified by one where the government set out to do something about an unacceptable amount of child poverty. So that government, in conjunction with the other levels of government, managed to cut the rate of poverty by 60 per cent between 2005 and 2012. It went from 3.3 per cent to 2.3 per cent. The idea of having food banks would never be accepted.
Hamilton is indeed fortunate to have such very excellent support services but as pointed out, the real problem lies elsewhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment