Hon. Percy Mockler: Honourable senators, I want to talk about something that I care a lot about and that is Food Banks Canada. First, I want to congratulate Philippe Ozga and his wonderful Canadian team across the country for their leadership in Food Banks Canada.

I want to share that my sister and I grew up with a single mother and lived on social assistance until I was 20 years old. At the time, we called it welfare. I would never have believed that I would be here in the Senate of Canada today to discuss a subject that involves everyone: poverty.

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Food Banks Canada revealed alarming and very disturbing statistics today that I want to share with you.

Honourable senators, food bank use is up 35% from 2019 and 15% since 2021. This increase represents the highest monthly food bank use in Canadian history, with almost 1.5 million visits in the month of March 2022. The increase stems from the existing weaknesses of our social safety net that have been worsened by inflation. Having a job no longer guarantees food security. Overall, honourable senators, one in five visitors at food banks are members of the labour force.

It is recommended by Food Banks Canada that our affordable housing crisis needs immediate and long-term solutions to face poverty. As more people continue to struggle at unprecedented rates, affordable housing supplies are still eroding and are being built too slowly. It is also recommended by Food Banks Canada that, as low-income workers flood food banks, Canada needs new policies that guarantee those who work will always have enough money to put food on their tables.

As I conclude, food insecurity and poverty must get special attention in northern and remote parts of Canada. All governments across Canada need to make our communities better places to work, better places to raise our children, better places to live and better places to reach out to the most vulnerable. Yes, we can do it. Canada can do it with steadfast political leadership.