Almost one quarter of kids in Ontario face food insecurity at home, a startling new survey reveals.
The troubling statistic was reported by Ottawa Public Health’s (OPH) Nutritious Food Basket 2023 survey, which seeks to map food insecurity and access to a nutritious diet.
OPH’s report highlights that nearly one in four children in Ontario, or 24.6%, lived in food-insecure households.
This figure translates to almost 700,000 children across the province who are struggling with access to adequate and nutritious food.
Analysts underscored the urgent need to address food insecurity, particularly among Ontario’s most vulnerable residents.
In 2022, 19.2% of Ontarians, equivalent to 2.8 million people, faced household food insecurity, indicating that the issue continues to worsen.
Moreover, the report details a significant increase in the cost of maintaining a healthy diet. For a reference family of four in Ottawa, the cost of healthy eating has risen to $1,153 per month, compared to $1,088 per month in 2022.
This escalating cost presents a serious barrier to families striving to provide nutritious meals for their children, OPH warned.
The impact of food insecurity is not uniform and disproportionately affects households that rent their homes, with 25.9% of renters experiencing food insecurity.
The Nutritious Food Basket survey is an annual tool employed by Ottawa Public Health since 1998, designed to assess the affordability of a healthy diet as mandated by the Ontario Public Health Standards.
OPH examines the costs of food, along with average rental rates, and compares them to income levels, particularly for those reliant on social assistance or earning minimum wage.
This year’s affordability report paints a grim picture, with many families grappling with the rising costs of basic food items and rent. The average cost for a family of four to afford a nutritious diet in 2023 is now $1,153 per month, marking a $65 increase from the previous year when it was $1,088.
Furthermore, those relying on social assistance, such as Ontario Works, with an average monthly income of $2,794, would need to allocate 111% of their earnings just to cover the expenses of housing and meals.
A recent survey by a small business advocacy group has revealed growing discontent among small businesses towards the federal carbon tax.
Data by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) shows that 85% of businesses now oppose the federal carbon tax and want it removed, a significant increase from the 52% opposition recorded just a year ago. The majority of small firms find the tax unfair, especially in light of the federal government’s recent decision to exempt only one heating fuel, heating oil, from the tax.
“Small businesses have been raising their concerns with the carbon tax for years,” said CFIB president Dan Kelly.
“They pay about 40% of the costs of the carbon tax, but the federal government has promised to return only 10% to small businesses.”
Another rising concern is that many small firms will be ineligible for the Federal Fuel Charge Proceeds Return Program if the federal government ever gets around to creating it, explained Kelly. This program promised to deliver the $2.5 billion collected from taxpayers since 2019 to small businesses and Indigenous groups.
The recent decision by the government to exempt certain Canadians from the carbon tax for heating costs has further exacerbated the issue. CFIB worries that the funding for this exemption may come at the expense of the small portion of carbon tax revenue earmarked to be returned to small businesses.
“The entire federal carbon tax structure is beginning to look like a shell game,” said Kelly.
With rising costs on everything from supplies to fuel to taxes and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan repayment deadline fast approaching, small businesses are in a precarious financial position, explained Kelly.
To address these concerns, CFIB is urging the federal government to make several important changes.
The changes include expanding the carbon tax exemption to all forms of heating fuels used by small businesses, including natural gas and other sources used by small businesses.
Halting future carbon tax increases, including the planned hike on April 1, 2024 should also be on the table, the CFIB explained. Immediately returning all promised funds to all small businesses that paid into the tax could also be a solution and ensuring businesses are eligible for rebates or refunds equivalent to the full share of the fuel charge costs they incur (estimated at 40% by CFIB).
The CFIB has also called on supporting the passing of Bill C-234 at third reading in the Senate rapidly without any amendments.
While consumers and larger corporations have benefited from rebates and grants, small businesses feel left behind, explained the CFIB.
“If the government can’t fix the carbon backstop system now, it’s time to scrap it and look for other ways to address climate change,” said Kelly.Despite unexpected support from the NDP, a Conservatives motion to extend the carbon tax exemption to all forms of home heating was defeated in the House of Commons on Monday. Liberal and Bloc Québécois MPs voted against the motion. The final vote count had 186 MPs opposed and 135 in support.
With the holidays around the corner, many Canadians are feeling the squeeze while facing the prospect of holiday shopping despite some signs that the economy is improving.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Bank of Montreal (BMO), 78% of Canadians plan on purchasing fewer gifts these coming holidays.
“The rising cost of living will be top of mind this holiday season,” said BMO’s Gayle Ramsay, head of everyday banking, segment and customer growth.
The BMO Index tracks consumers by asking them about their personal finances, surveying Canadians 18 and older.
The survey revealed that 40% of respondents said that they planned to buy less expensive gifts for friends and family.
More than half of respondents reported a sense of financial anxiety regarding the upcoming holidays, with 29% saying they feel less financially secure now than they did last year.
“The holidays are certainly a time to celebrate with loved ones, but the holiday parties, family gatherings, travel and gift exchanges can also pose a financial strain – especially during times of economic uncertainty,” said Ramsay in a press release.
A majority of those surveyed said that on average, they think it will take them three months to repay their holiday debt, while 24% said they weren’t sure if they’d be able to repay their holiday debt in the time that it was due.
The survey was conducted by Ipsos between September 11 to October 9, 2023 and has a credibility of +/- 2.2% 19 times out of 20.
Imagine if provincial governments could immediately reduce long health care wait times for thousands of patients from “years” to “weeks.” Canada could do just that if we copied a policy from the European Union called the Cross-Border Directive.
In the European Union, patients have the right to travel to another EU country for surgery, pay for it, and then be reimbursed by their government. Reimbursements cover up to the same amount it would have cost their government to provide the procedure locally.
It’s true that provincial governments sometimes reimburse patients for surgery in other jurisdictions – but that’s not the norm. Such cases tend to involve treating very rare diseases rather than common problems such as hip and knee replacements.
Take, for instance, Sharon Kilkenny. The Saskatchewan woman faced a 93-week wait for hip replacement surgery. She couldn’t put up with the pain and mobility loss for that long, so she traveled to Alberta and paid for private surgery.
After she had her surgery in April of 2022, she decided to see if she could receive reimbursement from the provincial government. She told SecondStreet.org that, after eight months, she was denied.
If provincial governments had the same policy as the E.U.’s Cross-Border Directive, it would have made Sharon’s life a lot easier – and the lives of thousands of other patients, who don’t have the means to scrape together enough money to travel for care.
Research shows Canadians love the idea of bringing this E.U. policy to Canada.
SecondStreet.org recently hired Leger to poll Canadians on what they think about the idea of copying the EU’s Cross-Border Directive. The results were conclusive. A staggering 74 per cent of respondents are in favour of implementing the policy in Canada. Support was high across all age groups, coast-to-coast, and among both men and women.
And why shouldn’t it be?
It’s easy to see why people waiting for surgery like the idea. It provides an option for them to get care more quickly. Simple. However, even if someone decides not to travel for surgery, the policy helps them, as well. Every time someone leaves the country to get care, everyone behind them on the waitlist moves up a spot. This could be a simple way to, for many patients, reduce wait times from years to weeks.
It’s also important to note that this policy could be cost-neutral in the medium term. Since we have a universal health care system, these are all surgeries the government would be paying for anyway. Allowing patients to travel merely shifts when the expense happens – now, instead of next year.
There may need to be some moving around of money in the government’s budget, but it’s really not a significant cost in the long term. Considering how governments at all levels in Canada are willing to throw away money on things like an $8 million barn, or spending $2 million to keep a failing coffee shop open, it shouldn’t be too much of an ask to pay for medically necessary surgeries earlier.
The status quo in health care can not keep going as is. It’s time for governments to take bold, new directions on health care reform. While copying the Cross-Border Directive isn’t a silver bullet that will fix all of our problems, it’s a start. It would be relatively easy to implement, it could immediately lead to a drop in wait times, and Canadians clearly want to see it happen.
So what’s the hold-up?
Dom Lucyk is the Communications Director with SecondStreet.org, a Canadian think tank.
“What is happening today in Quebec is unacceptable,” said Yair Szlak, president and CEO of Federation CJA (Combined Jewish Appeal) at a press conference on Thursday.
Two Montreal Jewish private schools were hit with gunshots Wednesday night as Canada continues to see widespread antisemitic incidents across the country.
Bullet holes were discovered by school staff on the outside of the buildings upon their arrival on Thursday morning.
No one was inside either school at the time of the shooting and there are no suspects in either case yet, according to police.
“What is happening today in Quebec is unacceptable,” said Yair Szlak, president and CEO of Federation CJA (Combined Jewish Appeal) at a press conference on Thursday.
“These are difficult times for Jews around the world. There are those who try to import the war happening in Israel to the streets of Montreal.”
The first-floor window of Talmud Torah Elementary School, located on Saint-Kevin Ave. was pierced with a small bullet hole in Montreal’s Cote-des-Neiges neighbourhood.
Another bullet hole on one of the doors was covered up with a piece of tape. Police have located at least one bullet casing near the school.
Police were also called to a second school Thursday morning, Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal, located on Deacon Road in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood.
“It seems a little absurd that we are sitting here again, two days after we’ve seen molotov cocktails being thrown at a Jewish synagogue and a Jewish community centre on the West Island,” said Szlak. “ Since then, we saw the horrific demonstrations at Concordia that turned into violence and led to detentions and arrests.”
A brawl broke out at Concordia University in Montreal between two student groups supporting either side of the Israel-Hamas war that left three injured and led to one arrest.
“This morning, we woke up to the fact that two of our Jewish schools, institutions in which we trust to send our Jewish kids, were shot overnight. And now, we have to deal with a different reality,“ said Szlak.
“When we said that a line had been crossed, I never thought that two days later I would have to say that that line had been pushed even further. The Jewish community, with close to three hundred years of history in Quebec, is under attack, and antisemitism is not a problem that the Jews can solve.”
Tensions continue to rise throughout the city of Montreal as numerous large scale pro-Palestinian protests have taken place in recent weeks.
“As we speak, there are pro-hate demonstrations taking place downtown on the anniversary of Krystalnatten on Nov. 9. A night where Jews were taken out of their homes and lynched before the greatest genocide in history,” Szlak said.
“In order to celebrate the hate that these demonstrations are perpetuating downtown, the poster that they use shows the breaking of glass,” Szlak added, holding up a copy of one of the posters plastered around Montreal’s downtown and on University campuses.
“Means the nights of broken glass. Salt in the wounds of Jewish community members who commemorate tonight as a great atrocity against our community.”
Szlak then called for the government to designate Samidoun as a terrorist entity.
“These demonstrations are not demonstrations of peace, the organizers, Samidoun, demonstrate hate and reiterate their calls time and again against the Jewish community. We’re calling upon the government to step up and list Samidoun as a terrorist entity.
“Another such organization that is manifesting these rallies is the Palestinians Youth Movement, glorifies violent murderers from at least four Canadian listed Canadian terrorist entities, namely Hamas, The Palestinian-Islamic Jihad, The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and The al-Aqsa Martyrs.”
“If we don’t name what is wrong with society today, antisemitism will continue to fester, hate will continue to grow, and I don’t want to be sitting here in a day or two, talking about what the next steps are,” said Szlak.
Honourary Lieutenant General of the Canadian Armed Forces, Richard Rohmer, one of Canada’s most decorated citizens, sat down with True North for a wide ranging discussion about his role in World World 2 as a fighter-reconnaissance pilot and his general thoughts on Canada.
By the age of 21, Rohmer had flown over 135 successful missions in the war, playing a key role in forcing the German surrender at Holland and flying missions on D-Day. For his service in the skies, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. At war’s end, Rohmer returned to Canada and continued his life long service to our country.
A politician, a writer of best selling novels and biographies, a lawyer and a passionate advocate for Canadian veterans, Rohmer has never stopped serving the people of Canada.
Hon. Lt.-Gen. Richard Rohmer sits down for a special Remembrance Day discussion with Harrison Faulkner
After 23 years of being a truck driver, a Saskatchewan man lost his job and custody of his young daughter for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
“I’m a completely broken man,” said Nicholas Ewanchuk of North Battleford.
Ewanchuk lost his job for refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine and still has not been allowed to return to work after two years. He also hasn’t been able to see his daughter.
Several groups of protestors are planning to return to Ottawa from across Canada to protest near Parliament soon, with the goal of getting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.
Ewanchuk said he may join them.
“When the time is right, I’m going to head back that way,” he told SASKTODAY in an interview. “I’m just watching everything unfold.”
He refused to take the Covid-19 vaccine because just prior to the pandemic being announced, Ewanchuk and several friends all caught an unruly flu virus.
“Not one of us went and seen the doctor,” said Ewanchuk, instead they stayed well hydrated, took vitamins, got lots of sleep and “sweated it out a couple of days.”
Once the Covid-19 vaccine was announced and ready for the public, Ewanchuk was skeptical about the safety and effectiveness considering how quickly the “record-breaking vaccine” made it to market.
Ewanchuk also said that before the pandemic, he held little interest in politics or social media. His life had been relatively sheltered, growing up on a farm and graduating high school with only 11 other students in his class.
“I never even knew about political parties and never paid attention to politics. When I left the farm, I started trucking in the oilfield. I figured I paid too much taxes but whatever,” said Ewanchuk.
He began down the “rabbit hole” only after the pandemic began, looking for more information.
Eventually, this led to disputes with his ex-wife as to whether or not they should vaccinate their daughter with the new Covid-19 vaccine. Ewanchuk said that his wife ended up choosing to vaccinate their daughter without his knowledge.
“I threw my phone across the house and put a hole in the drywall. I was so upset,” he said. “The cops showed up and charged me for uttering threats.”
Ewanchuk said that the pandemic destroyed what was once “a good co-parenting relationship” that he shared with his ex-wife.
“It came to a screeching halt,” he said.
Ewanchuk took responsibility for comments he made to his ex-wife, which led to him being charged and accepting a plea deal. He remains on probation until the end of the month.
Additionally, Ewanchuk was arrested for harassing Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and his family after he traveled to their home in April 2022.
“I left a note with my full name, address, phone number, email and social media. Six months later I was charged with harassment,” he said.
According to Ewanchuk, he wanted to have a “man to man, heart-to-heat” conversation with Moe regarding issues facing the province during the pandemic.
Remembrance Day is officially a time to commemorate the brave men and women who’ve died in the line of duty, but many use it to honour all who’ve served in the armed forces.
To express gratitude for their service, various organizations and businesses across Canada offer special discounts and free services to veterans and active-duty military personnel.
Here are seven ways veterans can take advantage of these offers on Remembrance Day.
1. (Ontario) Free access to Ontario’s provincial parks:
The province of Ontario is recognizing the courage and dedication of veterans and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces in a unique way this year.
The province is offering free weekday day-use access to provincial parks throughout the entire year.
Veterans can present their valid Canadian Armed Forces identification card and proof of Ontario residency to access these beautiful natural spaces without having to pay a dime.
2. (GTA, Ontario) Free transit in the Greater Toronto Area:
In the GTA, Canadian veterans can ride certain public transit for free on Remembrance Day.
Brampton Transit provides free rides for veterans wearing their uniform or displaying their Veterans Pass.
Metrolinx will offer free rides on GO trains and buses, and the UP Express train also welcomes veterans and one companion at no cost to.
3. (British Columbia) Complimentary travel fares:
British Columbia’s major transportation agencies, BC Ferries, BC Transit, and TransLink, are offering complimentary travel to veterans on Remembrance Day.
Veterans can travel for free by presenting official Canadian military identification or wearing their uniform. BC seniors can also travel free on Remembrance Day.
4. (Canada-wide) Free brunch at the Canadian Brewhouse:
The Canadian Brewhouse invites veterans and active military personnel to enjoy a free brunch on Remembrance Day.
Simply arrive in uniform or show the appropriate forms of identification. Veterans can enjoy a hearty meal from open until 4 pm free of charge.
5. (Vernon, British Columbia) Free soup and sandwich at The Roster:
The Roster Sports Club Bar & Grill in Vernon, BC, offers free soup and sandwiches to veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces on Remembrance Day.
Proof of veteran or armed forces active-duty status is required.
6. (Penticton, British Columbia) Veterans night at the Penticton Vees Hockey Club:
The Penticton Vees Hockey Club in British Columbia will host “Veterans Night” on Remembrance Day, offering free admission to veterans and active service members.
Family members of veterans and active service members receive a special ticket offer, and local youth under 19 are free.
The event includes a Remembrance Day pre-game ceremony with cadets distributing poppies by donation.
7. (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Children’s Museum veteran’s special discount:
Throughout the month of November, the Manitoba Children’s Museum offers a 50% discount on general admission to veterans and still-serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
To receive this discount, present a valid Canadian military service identification card to an Admissions Attendant.
A recent Ipsos survey indicates that Canadians are more committed than ever to attending official Remembrance Day services this year, with 37% expressing their intention to participate, a significant increase from the pre-pandemic levels of 29% in 2017 and 26% in 2016.
Despite this, the survey, conducted on behalf of Historica Canada, found that fewer Canadians believe it’s important to attend a ceremony – dropping from 41% in 2017 to 32% in the current poll.
Wearing poppies, a long-standing tradition to honor veterans, remains a significant gesture, with 72% of Canadians planning to wear one this year. However, this number has dipped from 77% in 2016 and 2017.
Regional variations are also more evident, with Ontario (80%) and British Columbia (86%) residents more likely to wear poppies than those in Quebec (44%).
The poll also highlights a divide in perceptions regarding modern veterans compared to those of the Second World War.
While 82% of Canadians still view Remembrance Day as relevant today as it was during its inception after the First World War, 52% believe that modern veterans are not held in the same regard as their Second World War counterparts.
This view is particularly pronounced among millennials, with 52% agreeing compared to 42% of baby boomers.
Additionally, the poll reveals a generational gap in how Canadians perceive young people’s understanding of veterans and Canadian war history. 51% believe that Canada’s youth do a commendable job of honoring veterans, with younger adults expressing this sentiment more strongly.
Similarly, 41% think that Canadians under 30 understand the sacrifices of those who have fought and died in wars, again with stronger agreement among the younger demographic.
The survey indicates that the awareness of the diminishing number of Second World War veterans alive today is driving interest in learning more about that era. Among those aged 18-34, 52% feel this way, compared to 45% of those aged 35-54 and 37% of those aged 55+.
The desire to speak to a Second World War veteran is also higher among the younger demographic, with 52% of those aged 18-34 expressing interest compared to 33% of those aged 55+.
Healthcare professionals are urging the British Columbia government to repeal or delay the implementation of Bill 36 over concerns that it undermines patient-doctor relationships and healthcare autonomy.
BC Conservative leader John Rustad and MLA Dr. Bruce Banman presented over 5,000 anti-Bill 36 postcards in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia on Thursday signed by concerned citizens and addressed to elected officials.
These postcards collectively demand that elected representatives review Bill 36 and consider repealing or delaying its implementation.
This Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), quietly passed in November 2022, has triggered widespread concern due to its potential to infringe on healthcare autonomy and undermine the quality of healthcare in British Columbia.
In response to these deeply rooted concerns, a coalition of healthcare professionals, led by BC Conservatives John Rustad MLA and Dr. Bruce Banman, initiated a public campaign and held a press conference outside of legislature.
A number of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses and chiropractors expressed their apprehensions and objections to Bill 36, which became law without substantial debate or discussion.
MC’ing the press conference was Dr. Banman, Conservative MLA for Abbotsford South and former chiropractor.
“It was rammed through, and closure was invoked. I think the largest bill that’s come across the floor of the legislature in 30-some-odd years deserves the dignity of being debated. And it was not,” lamented Banman.
Gail Davidson, a retired Canadian attorney and human rights advocate, explained that the Act was passed improperly using closure. She added that closure is a controversial time management tool to stop unnecessary debate — when the debate has gone on too long or is impairing the proper function of parliament.
Bill 36 was one of the largest bills ever passed in BC, consisting of 645 sections and 276 pages. Only 232 clauses were read, and Members of the BC legislature failed to fully consider or debate 412 clauses.
Despite being debated for 47 hours, almost nobody in the Legislative Assembly could have possibly understood any aspect of the Act, explained Davidson.
“This Act is dangerous to democracy; it’s dangerous to rights,” she said.
Davidson explained that the most concerning part of the Act is that it gives many different bodies the power to mandate compulsory vaccination for any transmissional disease.
Dr. Stephen Malthouse, one of many doctors who spoke at the press conference, warned that healthcare in the province was deteriorating at a very fast rate.
“It’s a snowball. But what we’re going to see with the acceptance of the passing of Bill 36 is that this snowball turns into an avalanche,” said Dr. Malthouse.
He added that many healthcare practitioners will be leaving the province or retiring early due to this bill.
“As a doctor, if we do not propagate the narrative of the government, the Ministry of Health, we will potentially be jailed for up to two years and given a fine of up to $500,000,” he said.
The press conference also brought attention to Bill 36’s implications for healthcare colleges. The legislation removes self-regulation from the current 15 healthcare colleges, placing them under the control of government appointees.
Colleges are not the only thing that the government would assume control over.
For Dr. Marina Sapozhnikov, the most concerning sections of the bill are 335 and 553, that indicate that the provincial health officer based on their opinion alone can introduce law in the province that has been made by any provincial, national, or international organization.
After growing up in Ukraine and spending 30 years in the Soviet Union, she was troubled by the bill’s implications.
“I could hardly imagine myself standing here in Canada and defending democracy. That is a sick joke,” said Dr. Sapozhnikov.
Following Dr. Sapozhnikov’s speech, Bruce Banman quickly took note of her comparison between the countries.
“I’ve just got to say that when someone from Russia who grew up in the USSR finds that it’s more draconian here than it is in the Soviet Union, that should make us all pause. It’s very, very scary,” he said.
Despite BC’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix saying in the legislature that this bill passed with “unprecedented consultation,” Dr. Anna Kindy shed light on the matter during the press conference.
She explained that in April 2023, there was a Zoom presentation to inform medical professionals about the HPOA. There were about 400 doctors on the Zoom call, with continuous questions about this Act. She said that two bureaucrats with no medical background went over the Act and failed to answer any questions.
“There was not one answer,” said Dr. Kindy.
However, following the Zoom call, the bureaucrats promised that they would eventually reach out with answers.
“No physicians got any answers. So, Minister Dix, we were not consulted,” she said.
Rustad pleaded with the BC government to support healthcare workers instead of sowing confusion..
“Adrian Dix has said they want to protect patients from the healthcare workers. To me, this is just wrong. We should be figuring out how we actually support and honor our healthcare workers. Our healthcare workers are the backbone of healthcare. Without them, we don’t have healthcare,” he said.
“This is a bill, quite frankly, that leads us further into darkness,” he said. The Conservative Party of BC recently called on the BC NDP to fire Dr. Bonnie Henry for banning thousands of healthcare workers from working in BC’s hospitals, clinics, and Doctor’s offices.
