Progress on the Right to Food
Food First NL adopted a new mission statement in 2023: “To advance everyone’s right to food in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The right to food isn’t just a phrase. It’s a defined concept written into international agreements which Canada has signed. It is not, however, a human right written into provincial human rights legislation. Meaning you can’t pursue a right-to-food case with the Human Rights Commission. Advancing this right — and all of the pieces of the definition — will require major social changes.
The Right to Food in 2023
So, what do we see if we look at Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023 through a right-to-food lens?
A Worsening Cost-of-Living Crisis
The impacts of inflation — food price inflation in particular — were one of the main topics in the news and politics. Food prices rose shockingly fast and outpaced inflation rates. Based on the latest local food price data (from 2022), inflation ranged from 11.8% in Eastern Newfoundland to 18.5% on the Northern Peninsula and Northern Labrador. Unsurprisingly, food insecurity in N.L. shot up in the latest food insecurity data from PROOF. We are now the most food-insecure province in Canada, with 22.9% of households experiencing food insecurity.
The right to food isn’t only about financial access, but it’s a huge part of the puzzle. In 2022, the trendlines moved strongly in the wrong direction.
Intersections With Other Crises
The right to food and the cost-of-living crisis connect to the housing crisis — another main topic in 2023. Grassroots action and public pressure drove conversations about the housing crisis' depth into the news and onto decision-makers' desks. The right to food cannot advance if people don't have safe, secure, and affordable housing.
The right to food is not just the right to buy food. It includes the right to access culturally appropriate foods, which means country foods for Indigenous people in N.L. That right is already under tremendous pressure from the climate crisis. Traditional foodways in Northern Labrador have already changed dramatically. Climate crisis pressure on our right to food will only increase in the years to come.
The Beginnings of Systems Change
2023 began with little progress on anti-poverty policy and legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador. That changed when the provincial government released their new Poverty Reduction Plan. These new measures are a good start. They’ll make a real difference for some of the most economically vulnerable people in the province and hopefully reduce the number of people in deep poverty. However, more needs to be done.
The province also advanced some elements of the Health Accord. The approach outlined in the Health Accord proposes significant investment in the social determinants of health. These investments would advance the right to food if they happen. In 2023, the Health Accord implementation focused on the nuts-and-bolts changes to the health system. That said, the building blocks for systems change are being laid.
Finally, there was significant progress on a basic income policy, which could be transformational. The N.L. All-Party Committee continued their work studying the policy. Prince Edward Island released a report proposing a demonstration project. And, finally, the province implemented a new basic income program for low-income seniors.
Building Networks
Efforts to build networks at the provincial and regional levels continued in 2023. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Food Producers Forum made progress with their work to build up a provincial network. The Labrador Anchor Collaborative began its second two-year project connecting healthcare and traditional foods. We also saw more network-building in Atlantic Canada. Community Food Centres Canada launched its Atlantic Poverty Action Unit, and the Atlantic Food Action Coalition started its first year of operation.
Looking to 2024
Looking at the year ahead, we see the potential for the major transformations needed to advance the right to food. But there’s a lot of work that needs to happen. So, what do we see coming?
Progress Towards a Basic Income
2024 could be a big year for the basic income movement in Canada. People around the country are working to support P.E.I. and their proposed basic income demonstration project. That project could be a huge asset to the movement in N.L. if it goes ahead. Locally, we expect a final report from the All-Party Committee. If they endorse a basic income, it will further Atlantic Canada's position as a leader on this issue.
School Meals Going Big
Work will begin in 2024 to expand school meal programs to all Pre-K to Grade 9 students — a big announcement from the Poverty Reduction Plan. This expansion will require a huge effort but also presents an opportunity to transform our food systems.
Hopefully, this is also the year that ends Canada’s sad status as the only G7 country without a national school food program. We will watch the Federal budget closely and hope to see the first funded commitment from the Government of Canada’s planned $1B investment.
Minimum Wage Review
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is required to review the minimum wage this year. This is the first review since the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives developed an updated, regional living wage for N.L. last year. The gap between our current minimum wage and those living wages is immense. Any measure to close that gap would positively impact food access.
Continuing to Rethink Food Charity
Momentum continues to build around the movement to rethink food charity models. Last year, we released our report and recommendations on Rethinking Food Charity. This year, we anticipate a lot of movement in the food charity sector. Food banks will be adapting to a new set of national standards. We are committing staff time and looking for resources to support organizations that want to change.
Final Thoughts
2023 was a hard year for the right to food. 2024 is going to be hard, too, but there are glimmers of hope for those who see a pathway to a province where everyone can eat with joy and dignity.