Nova Scotia is the best at something, and that thing is having the highest rates of food insecurity and poverty out of any province in Canada. Statistics Canada just came out with new findings, and things aren’t great.
- 28.9% of Nova Scotians are food insecure, the highest rate in the country.
- 40.5% of children in Nova Scotia live in food insecure households. This increased by 29% in one year from 31.4% in 2021.
- 37.5% of racialized households are food insecure, compared to 26.8% of non-racialized households.
- Nova Scotia’s poverty rate increased by 52% between 2021 and 2022, and sits currently at 13.1%, the highest rate in the country.
- Nova Scotia’s child poverty rate was 14.1%, the highest rate in the country. (Source)
*Out of the provinces, data from the territories will be released this year from Statistics Canada.
Food Banks Canada gave Nova Scotia a “D-” grade in their poverty report card, and outlines the contributing factors in this report. They suggest that high unemployment and high fixed living costs create a reliance on social assistance which isn’t sufficient for people in need. They provided a failing grade for food insecurity as well. (Source)
Feed Nova Scotia’s executive director, Nick Jennery, also spoke to their experience saying that 2022 was a record year for this organization, but that 2023 beat that by 27%. (Source)
We believe that our community should be food secure.
As a cooperative of farmers’ markets, we know that Nova Scotia is strategically positioned to provide more fresh local food to food insecure individuals. We have the most farmers’ markets per capita in Canada and our organization runs a food coupon program, The Nourishing Communities Food Coupon Program, in its 6th year across the province where we provide market bucks to low income households.
We understand that the Nourishing Communities program does not address the causes of food insecurity and does not lift people out of poverty, but it’s proven to be an effective tool to allow people to meet more of their needs and to feel more connected to their community, all while supporting the local economy and investing in local food producers. We have a third party report on the program for anyone interested.
Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia has the ability and infrastructure to expand this program greatly. We know the demand is high, but we just need more funding. We’re currently working with 30+ markets who work with 45+ social organizations across Nova Scotia. Every community has more people to feed. We know this just scratches the surface, and we’re committed to the sustainability and success of this program for the participants.
Our ask to you: Please keep issues like this that affect so many of our neighbours, and programs like Nourishing Communities this in mind when addressing issues in your community and with your politicians.
You can also support this program by donating on our website or by purchasing our Home Cook Bundle Fundraiser in our shop.
Links:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240426/dq240426a-eng.htm?HPA=1
https://proof.utoronto.ca/2024/new-data-on-household-food-insecurity-in-2023/
https://foodbankscanada.ca/poverty-index/2023-nova-scotia/
https://www.novascotia.ca/finance/statistics/news.asp?id=19863
