Will Cornwall Be Next to Declare a Food Emergency?

Jason Setnyk—Op/Ed
Will Cornwall Be Next to Declare a Food Emergency?

As Kingston joins Toronto and Mississauga in declaring food insecurity an emergency, I wonder if Cornwall will follow suit. A recent media release from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) reminded me of a grassroots survey in Cornwall the previous year that painted a troubling picture of worsening food insecurity and housing instability across the region. The situation demands immediate attention from all levels of government.

In Kingston, nearly one in three households faced food insecurity, prompting city leaders to declare an emergency. The municipality called for increases to social assistance rates, expanded school meal programs, and the introduction of a guaranteed basic income. These measures are a response to the reality that the current system is failing to meet basic needs. The pain of food insecurity is deeply personal for many, as parents skip meals so their children can eat, and families are forced to make impossible choices between rent, food, and other essentials.

Cornwall’s struggles, like many other communities, is mirroring this crisis. A March 2024 survey at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank revealed a dire situation where individuals relying on Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program often face monthly deficits after covering rent. Couples, penalized financially for living together, are left with even fewer resources. Local food banksreported dramatic increases in demand last year, and numbers remain high. A front-line worker I spoke with recently believes the situation has become a crisis.

At the same time, housing insecurity is compounding the issue. Tent cities are increasingly common in communities across Ontario, including Cornwall, as affordable housing remains out of reach for many. With public housing costly to build, the current plan is expected to address only about 50% of the need—assuming conditions don’t worsen or demand doesn’t surge. Families struggling with food insecurity often find themselves unable to maintain stable housing, creating a cycle of poverty that municipalities are ill-equipped to break without additional support.

The root cause of food insecurity lies in inadequate income, but solutions must address the interconnected challenges of housing and affordability. Reforming social assistance to reflect actual living costs and eliminating penalties for couples could provide immediate relief for many households. A livable basic income would reduce reliance on food banks and ensure greater stability. Additionally, federal and provincial governments must reinvest in affordable housing with sustained funding and revisit policies like rent controls and rules surrounding renovictions to prevent further displacement of low-income renters.

Economic development alone cannot resolve food and housing insecurity because these issues are rooted in systemic income inequality and inadequate social safety nets. While economic growth may create jobs and boost regional prosperity, it often fails to address the immediate needs of low-income households struggling to afford basic essentials. Rising living costs driven by inflation, stagnant wages that fail to keep pace with these costs, and gaps in social assistance programs outstrip the benefits of economic development, leaving vulnerable populations increasingly behind. Without targeted policies, such as increased social assistance rates, affordable housing initiatives, and income-based solutions, economic growth will remain insufficient to bridge the gap.

Programs that provide immediate assistance, such as expanding school meal programs, can alleviate some of the pressure on families. Cornwall would also benefit from investing in community-based initiatives, such as food-sharing programs to address root causes and create sustainable solutions.

Food insecurity can also impact physical health and mental health. The mental health consequences for children, families, and vulnerable individuals and the increased strain on healthcare systems make food insecurity a public health crisis as much as an economic one. Without action, the long-term costs will far exceed the investment required to address these issues now.

Also, recovery during the pandemic was challenging due to disrupted supply chains, and the war in Ukraine further complicated global trade. Now, if the President of the United States imposes tariffs on Canada, the resulting job losses and inflation could be devastating.

Cornwall has an opportunity to take a bold stand by declaring a food emergency and amplifying the call for systemic change. While municipalities are on the front lines of this crisis, it is ultimately a national and provincial issue that requires coordinated action. As more cities sound the alarm, Cornwall must decide whether to wait for the situation to worsen or to act decisively and advocate for the policies needed to ensure a livable future for its residents. The choice is clear, and the time to act is now, with both a federal and provincial election on the horizon.

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