London MPP, health unit urge province to raise social assistance rates as families go hungry

A London MPP is urging the Ford government to raise social assistance rates as low-income residents struggle to afford food. 

Peggy Sattler, the NDP MPP for London West, raised the issue in Queen's Park on Thursday. She reiterated the message of a letter the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) submitted a week before to Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa.

It relays findings from a report that says social assistance rates have not kept pace with the increased cost of living, resulting in high levels of food insecurity.

"At a time of unprecedented inflation, food insecurity in our province is higher than ever before," Sattler said. 

"Our health unit is telling this government that people on ODSP [Ontario Disability Support Programs] and Ontario Works are not eating, Speaker. Why is this government keeping social assistance rates so low that those who rely on social assistance are forced to go without food?" 

The emergency food cupboard in her riding is seeing up to six new families a day, she said, and the London Food Bank faces a 40 per cent increase in demand in the last year. 

Sattler highlighted the letter's message that food insecurity is associated with physical and mental health challenges, including chronic conditions, non-communicable diseases, infections, depression, anxiety and stress.

Less expensive foods can lead to disease

The health unit presented the report to its board in April. Through food affordability monitoring conducted in May 2022, it estimated the local monthly cost to feed a family of four was $1,084. 

Ontario Works and ODSP have been stagnant since 2018. A single person can receive up to $1,169 a month on ODSP and $733 on Ontario Works.

The cost of groceries is expected to have increased in 2023 due to inflation. Food prices in Ontario stores were 10.1 per cent higher than in January 2022, according to the Consumer Price Index. 

The report showed households with low incomes in London-Middlesex spend up to 45 per cent of their after-tax income on food, while those with adequate incomes spend approximately 12 per cent. 

"Less expensive foods are sometimes the unhealthier ones that can lead to poor nutrition, and potentially to chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease," said Dr. Alex Summers, the MLHU's medical officer of health. "Regrettably, the healthier foods are often the most expensive ones. And that's why food insecurity is a social determinant of health."

Summers was unable to provide updated data on how often families have been skipping meals altogether but said the MLHU is hearing increasing concern from its school health partners over students not having enough to eat. 

Parsa responded to Sattler, saying the NDP has been an obstacle in helping low-income families. 

The NDP has voted against every measure the Ford government has taken to help Ontarians cope with the offset of inflation, he said.