Re: “Food banks are a miracle of the human spirit,” column, Nov. 27
Food banks, it is claimed, are miracles of the human spirit and an inherently effective response to market needs — domestic hunger — while no government can get it right all the time.
Well, since 1981, when food banks reached Canada from the U.S., government has waited 35 years and done nothing. Instead, troubling food insecurity is left to food charity, with Canadian governments neglecting official data that hunger is primarily a problem of income poverty and failed income distribution.
There is no evidence that food charity has reduced hunger in Canada, where where million individuals (2012 data) experience some level of food insecurity, of whom 60 per cent are working poor; and only one in four visit food banks, an ineffective model.
Rather than a miracle, the hungry need a political champion. The B.C. government could introduce a living wage, adequate social assistance rates and affordable housing.
Over to you, Premier Christy Clark.
Graham Riches
Emeritus professor of social work, UBC
Qualicum Beach
