Food Costs Take A Big Bite Of The Income Pie For Low-income British Columbians, Canada

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 29 Nov 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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Imagine spending 42% of your income after taxes on food. That's how much a family of four receiving income assistance in BC would need to spend to purchase enough healthy food. Combine this with the estimated 65% required for shelter, and this family is in the hole before purchasing any other necessities of daily living, such as clothing, transportation, and personal care items. Compare these circumstances with a family of four with an average income; that family would spend about 17% of their income on food and 33% on shelter.

The Cost of Eating in BC 2007 Report by the Dietitians of Canada, BC Region and the Community Nutritionists Council of BC profiles the hardships faced by families trying to purchase healthy food while living on a low-income. Although the shelter allowance was increased in 2007 for families living on income assistance, their situation remained virtually unchanged, because rent, even at the lower end of the market, has increased a comparable amount in the last two years alone. The shelter allowance has not increased since 2002 for the family of four and in fact, in 2002, it was dropped by $60 a month. The monthly support allowance, which is to cover the cost of food and all other non-shelter items, has remained the same since 2001, despite price increases to food and other necessities. "Imagine trying to feed, clothe and care for a family of four on $401 each month", says Janice Macdonald, Regional Executive Director of Dietitians of Canada, BC. "Now imagine trying to do the same for a family of five, six, or seven, because $401 is what you would receive, regardless of a larger family size."

Healthy eating and active living are well known essential ingredients for good health. The provincial government has set health targets and is supporting initiatives aimed at encouraging British Columbians to eat better and be more active. This is good news for some British Columbians but dietitians are concerned that these targets will be difficult to achieve without more attention paid to the impact of poverty on health. Low-income Canadians suffer more ill health and die earlier than high-income Canadians. Not having enough money is the most important barrier to healthy eating. This government must get serious about changing policies that support poverty such as the inadequate income assistance rates.

Dietitians are calling for practical and achievable solutions to poverty - to establish poverty reduction as an important policy goal; to base income assistance rates on actual costs of shelter, food and other necessities; to increase minimum wage; and to adequately support social housing and food security initiatives. Several other provinces and territories have recently announced poverty reduction strategies, which include increases to minimum wage and income assistance reforms that promise to index the assistance rates to the Consumer Price Index and the actual cost of healthy food. We call on the BC government to take similar steps.

Dietitians of Canada represents over 5600 dietitians across Canada and is committed to promoting the health and well-being of consumers through food and nutrition. For trusted information on nutrition and healthy eating and to register to receive DC's regular nutrition updates, visit http://www.dietitians.ca.

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