The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security recently hosted its annual symposium, drawing attention to Canada’s growing food insecurity crisis. With nine million Canadians experiencing food insecurity in 2023, including one in four children, the symposium gathered over 160 participants from government, private sector and civil society to discuss solutions. Food bank usage has hit record levels, and Toronto now sees one in ten residents relying on food banks.
Michael McCain, honourary chair of the Maple Leaf Centre, emphasized that food insecurity affects health, education, employment and society’s overall integrity. He stressed that the problem cannot be solved solely through food donations but requires broader solutions to create a more equitable society.
Special guest Premier Andrew Furey of Newfoundland and Labrador highlighted the need to strengthen the social determinants of health to combat food insecurity. Furey advocated for investments in food security to improve health outcomes and economic stability, signaling a readiness to collaborate toward halving food insecurity by 2030.
The symposium also focused on food prescribing in the U.S. as a tool to combat diet-related diseases and explored how Canada could adopt similar measures. Sarah Stern, executive director of the center, stressed the need for collective action across sectors and political lines to address this entrenched issue.
The Centre aims to reduce food insecurity by 50% by 2030, working collaboratively on public policies and community programs.
