Nova Scotia receives a failing grade on food insecurity: Food Bank Canada

By CityNews Halifax Staff

A new report from Food Bank Canada places Nova Scotia at the bottom of the list when it comes to food insecurity.

In Food Bank Canada’s 2023 report card, our province received an overall letter grade of “F”, he only province to receive a grade that low.

According to Nova Scotia’s report card, the high unemployment rate and stagnant minimum wage in Nova Scotia have contributed to the rise of poverty in the province.

The report goes on to say a steep rise in housing costs over the past few years has exacerbated the issue, adding 68 per cent of food bank clients in the province live in rental housing.

According to the report, 12 per cent of the population receives employment insurance, which is double the national average.

As well, it states a quarter of the population receives social assistance, which is the highest among the provinces.

Seventeen per cent of the population receives housing benefits, the second highest among the provinces.

The Food Bank’s report alos made a number of recommendations for the province, including improving community-based health care for seniors and introducing a new poverty reduction strategy.