As summer approaches, concerns are mounting among teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador regarding food insecurity among students. Trent Langdon, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, emphasizes that many children will spend their holiday months hungry without the school lunch programs that typically provide meals during the academic year. The province recorded distressing statistics in 2024, being tied with New Brunswick for the highest rate of children living in food-insecure households.
Langdon noted that educators are increasingly witnessing the negative impacts of hunger on their students. He articulated, “If you have a young person who is coming to school when they’re hungry, it reduces morale, it reduces overall energy, it reduces the likelihood of them getting out of bed. It weighs very heavily.” Reports have surfaced of teachers bringing extra sandwiches to distribute to students in need, showcasing the dire situation impacting the educational environment.
Statistics from a recent report by Proof, a research group affiliated with the University of Toronto, reveal sobering figures regarding child food insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as New Brunswick, with an alarming 40 percent of children under 18 living in food-insecure households. The report, informed by data from Statistics Canada, indicates that over a quarter of Canadians, representing a record high, experienced food insecurity in 2024. Newfoundland and Labrador ranked third among the provinces for overall food insecurity, trailing behind Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The report highlights that food insecurity disproportionately affects single-parent families. More than half of these families, specifically 56.8 percent, were identified as food insecure last year. Proof defines food insecurity as the “inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints,” signifying a serious public health concern and a matter of public policy.
In light of these troubling statistics, anti-poverty organization Food First Newfoundland and Labrador is urging the provincial government to reevaluate its strategies for poverty reduction. Chief Executive Josh Smee commented, “These statistics are not surprising, but they are also not inevitable. People in this province are under tremendous pressure right now to afford the food they need, and there are many ways that pressure could be relieved.”
Danielle Seward, the executive director of the Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, expressed her agreement that urgent action is necessary to address food insecurity. She pointed out that a significant portion of individuals utilizing her organization’s food bank are doing so for the first time and often come from skilled professions. The rising costs of rent and electricity are straining their ability to purchase groceries. Seward noted, “I think a lot of folks would be shocked to see the vast diversity amongst our clients and to see how many of them are in very successful working positions. The cost of everything has increased exponentially, whereas the incomes for these professional occupations haven’t.”
While increasing income support rates could benefit some clients, Seward acknowledged that it would not address the entire issue. She urged the provincial government to take food insecurity seriously and to convene a task force dedicated to finding solutions. One suggestion includes exploring ways to alleviate high grocery costs, perhaps through financial support to offset shipping expenses to the island of Newfoundland and remote regions of Labrador.
Seward also expressed concerns regarding the summer months, a particularly critical time for single-parent families who lack access to breakfast and lunch programs. She highlighted that summer poses unique challenges, as it often results in increased usage of food banks. “For single-parent families, the summer is the most critical time of the year for food insecurity,” she stated, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change to combat this growing issue.
