On January 22, Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, deputed at the City of Toronto’s Budget Committee meeting to advocate for enhanced funding for poverty reduction initiatives.
While the City’s 2024 Budget maintains critical core services that Torontonians need – such as housing, shelters, and public transit – there is a need for additional investments in these critical areas to address rising inequality and food insecurity. The municipal government has an important role to play in providing services directly, but also advocating to other orders of government on behalf of the residents of Toronto.
Our Who’s Hungry 2023 report shows that there were nearly 3 million food bank visits in Toronto alone, as 1 in 10 people now rely on food banks, up from 1 in 20, the year prior.
With food insecurity and poverty on the rise, it is critical that City Council puts forward concrete, funded actions to address the challenges that Torontonians are facing and continues to advocate to the Federal Government for a fully funded Canada Disability Benefit.
Click here or view below to watch Neil’s deputation and here to read Daily Bread’s 2024 Toronto Budget Submission.
