Laurie in Question Period
Support for Food Banks
Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is World Food Day. This government likes to say that all Albertans have benefited from the boom, but the reality can be a little bit different story. It was recently reported that the Nanton and area food bank is struggling to keep food on its shelves, and they are helping people this year who don’t normally require the service. My question is to the minister of finance. If there is a food bank in Nanton now, with a multi billion dollar provincial surplus and the economy sliding downward, what is the government’s plan to mitigate the effect on food banks like Nanton?
Ms Evans: Well, Mr. Speaker, normally the Minister of Employment and Immigration would answer this because the income support programs are within his ministry, but clearly if there is any kind of crisis in terms of the lack of supports for any population in any particular region, we would no doubt have those reports, bring them forward, and try and find ways to resolve the crisis. Perhaps the minister would…
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. Then to the same minister: if, as the minister has stated repeatedly, all Albertans have benefited from the boom, why is it that almost 30 per cent of the Albertans who use the food bank and rely on it have jobs but are still having to go to a food bank?
Ms Evans: Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member opposite would be well aware of my compassion as an individual for people who have needs either for children or family needs. That kind of compassion resonates within many ministries here where almost everybody seems to have a hand in trying to help those people that are underprivileged. The Minister of Children and Youth Services would no doubt find those areas in her budget that would help augment children’s benefits. We have eyes and ears in communities with staff, social workers, and other counsellors that are available to evaluate what the needs are. The minister of agriculture keeps us apprised of what’s happening in the rural communities.
The Speaker: The hon. member. [interjection] The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, then, my next question is to the minister of children’s services. Why is the government allowing 64,000 children in Alberta to live in poverty? Most of those children have to rely on these very same food banks.
Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, we’re well aware of children that do live in poverty in this province, and I will take that under consideration and refer that to the minister of children’s services.
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