Nutritious Food Basket (Motion #59-08)

Approved by the Sudbury & District Board of Health.

Motion

WHEREAS a nutritious diet is a basic requirement for health and poor nutrition leads to an increased risk of chronic and infectious diseases; and

WHEREAS the 2008 Nutritious Food Basket Report demonstrates that local households on social assistance or earning minimum wage cannot afford a nutritious diet after paying for housing costs and other necessities; and

WHEREAS the 2007 Ontario Hunger Report revealed that 6.7% of the Sudbury population accessed food banks each month; and

WHEREAS the Analysis of Ontario sample in Cycle 2.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2004) revealed that 9.7% of households in the Northern Ontario Health Region are food insecure and that households, most vulnerable to food insecurity are those on a low income, especially those relying on social assistance; and

WHEREAS the Sudbury & District Health Unit has supported the Community Strategy to Reduce Poverty in the City of Greater Sudbury (2008) and has endorsed the 25 in 5 Founding Declaration; and

WHEREAS under motion 43-07, the Sudbury & District Board of Health requested that the province develop a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health acknowledge the province for initiating the development of a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Ontario and further request that the provincial poverty reduction plan incorporate Nutritious Food Basket findings from across the province in developing targets and strategies; and

FURTHER THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health share the 2008 Nutritious Food Basket – The Cost of Eating in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts with appropriate community agencies, mayors and councils throughout Sudbury and Manitoulin districts and request their support for local and provincial poverty reduction efforts.

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This item was last modified on June 12, 2015