Provincial Policy Levers to Reduce Household Food Insecurity $

Provincial Policy Levers to Reduce Household Food Insecurity Food insecurity - the inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints - is monitored by Statistics Canada through the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). [...] +$1/hr +$1000 1% income tax minimum welfare rate for lowest wage income bracket $ $ 5% odds of % 5% odds of severe food food insecurity insecurity 9% odds of food insecurity A one-dollar increase in minimum A $1000 increase in annual welfare A one-percentage-point increase in wage was associated with 5% lower income was associated with 5% the income tax rate for the odds of experiencing food. [...] reduce food insecurity among prevalent among households relying workers who make up the majority on social assistance1 and is Lowering the income tax rate for the for the food-insecure in Canada associated with the greatest lowest-income households can (65% in 2017-2018).1 Racialized negative health outcomes,5, 6 reduce food insecurity by improving workers and those relying on greatest increased r. [...] We found no association between food insecurity and changes in the price of food or energy or the percentage of children with childcare space available to them. [...] Given the tremendous burden on people’s health and the healthcare needs, food insecurity is a drain on provincial health care budgets.9 Provincial governments should make food insecurity reduction a priority and recognize that their decisions about minimum wage, welfare benefits, and income tax rates for the lowest income households are food security policies.