Nutritious Food Basket 2016 (Motion #50-16)

Moved by Meikleham – Huska. Approved by the Sudbury & District Board of Health, October 20, 2016.

WHEREAS the Sudbury & District Board of Health has monitored the cost of healthy eating on an annual basis in accordance with the Nutritious Food Basket Protocol and the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol per the 2008 Ontario Public Health Standards; and

WHEREAS the 2016 costing results continue to demonstrate that individuals and families living on low incomes cannot afford food after paying for housing and other necessities and therefore may be at risk for food insecurity; and

WHEREAS, within the 2016 Budget, the provincial government announced a Basic Income Pilot and has appointed the Honourable Hugh Segal to provide advice on the design and implementation of a Basic Income Pilot through a discussion paper to be delivered to the province by the fall;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Sudbury & District Board of Health commend the provincial government on taking steps to investigate basic income guarantee as a policy option for reducing poverty; and

THAT social assistance rates be increased to reflect the actual cost of nutritious food and adequate housing as informed by the current results of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Nutritious Food Basket and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Income (Ontario) reports; and

FURTHER THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health share this motion and supporting materials with community agencies, boards, municipalities, elected representatives and others as appropriate throughout the SDHU catchment area.

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This item was last modified on November 18, 2016