The Prince Albert Food Bank will be glad to see the grocery rebate come down, but leadership wonders what comes afterwards. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Grocery Rebate Not Enough

Local food bank sees grocery rebate as short-term fix

Mar 31, 2023 | 12:00 PM

As part of the recently released federal budget, the Canadian government announced a grocery rebate to help combat the rising cost of food. Some have wondered whether it will be anything more than a stopgap solution, however.

Around 11 million low-to-modest income Canadians will get the rebate. Single Canadians without children will receive $234 while couples with two children will get $467. Seniors will receive $225 on average.

“I think the month that it comes out, it will have a significant impact,” said Kim Scruby, executive director of the Prince Albert Food Bank. “Beyond that, people are going to be back to facing high prices.”

According to Scruby, any relief is helpful but this isn’t a long term solution, and the problem of food insecurity needs a long term solution. Scruby added that these rebates aren’t going to do anything to counter inflation, and could even make the problem worse.

“At this point, I’d just like to see inflation start coming down for everyone,” Scruby said. “Part of the problem is when we start adding money into the economy, that’s a big part of what stimulates inflation. It’s kind of a no-win situation, really.”

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A report last month by Statistics Canada said inflation throughout the economy is slowing down, but the price of food was a notable exception. The price of food was rising nearly twice as quickly as the rest of Consumer Price Index items (10.4 percent as opposed to 5.9) and the food bank has seen this as well.

“We’re seeing a lot more folks coming in, multiple employment households,” said Scruby. “We’ve got a big problem with food in that every time the dollar goes down against the U.S., that’s an inflationary factor. Plus the cost of transportation, that type of thing. I’m not really sure what the solution is at this point.”

Some solution is going to have to be found, however. Scruby noted that from late January to now they’re up around 100 food hampers a month from that point.

“We’re still continuing to get a lot of support from the community, which is great, in spite of the economic times we’re living in right now,” Scruby said.

Scruby added the eventual return of the pulp mill, bringing with it a series of well-paying jobs, should help the tough economic climate. He also said that with Easter approaching, they often find that for that as for other events, people are in need of more food with family dinners on the horizon.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP