Food Banks Canada looks forward to working with the new Liberal Government to reduce the need for food banks

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - Food Banks Canada would like to offer its congratulations to the new federal Liberal Government on its majority election victory. A promise to make positive change in Canada is a welcome sign of leadership by this incoming federal government.

Each and every month in Canada, close to 850,000 people access food banks in order to make ends meet. More than a third of those helped are children. In a country as rich as Canada, it is unacceptable that the need for food banks remains at historical levels more than seven years after the 2008 recession.

This is why Food Banks Canada looks forward to working with the new government to develop and implement lasting policies that will significantly reduce the need for food banks. It is very encouraging that Prime Minister-elect Trudeau has promised a number of changes that will have a positive impact in the lives of thousands of Canadians in need. These promises include:

• The amalgamation of several child tax credits into the new Canada Child Benefit, which will help many of the more than 300,000 children helped by food banks each month in Canada.
• The investment of an additional $200 million in education and training for unemployed Canadians who are not eligible for Employment Insurance.
• The removal of the GST on new capital investments in affordable rental housing, which will help reduce the cost of housing for renters.
• An increase of the Guaranteed Income Supplement for single seniors living alone.

"We are encouraged that the incoming federal government understands that it is unacceptable for a country as rich as ours to have so many children going to school with an empty stomach," says Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director of Food Banks Canada. "We are looking to Prime Minister-elect Trudeau to prioritize his social policy plans, and we believe this government can make a real impact in the lives of people who are food insecure."

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada supports a unique network of over 3,000 food-related organizations in every province and territory that assists close to 850,000 Canadians each month. Together our network shares over 200 million pounds of essential safe quality food annually, provides social programs that help to foster self-sufficiency, and advocates for policy change that will help create a Canada where no one goes hungry.

SOURCE Food Banks Canada

Media contact: Marzena Gersho, Food Banks Canada, 647-242-5919 (mobile) or [phone] ext. 228 (office), [email protected]