Kingston Declares Food Insecurity Emergency as Crisis Deepens
Kingston, Ontario, has officially declared food insecurity emergency, becoming the third city in the province to take this action. This move follows a significant rise in residents unable to afford basic meals, with one in three people in the Kingston area now experiencing food insecurity.
Growing Crisis in Kingston
During a recent city council meeting, members voted to declare the emergency, citing alarming local statistics. According to KFL&A Public Health, the rate of food insecurity in Kingston jumped from one in nine people in 2022 to one in three in 2025.
Councillor Greg Ridge described the situation as critical, sharing a personal story of how food insecurity affected his family when he was a child. “People are drowning,” Ridge said, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
Key Challenges Highlighted
Ruth Noordegraaf, Kingston’s director of community development and well-being, pointed out that social assistance rates fail to meet basic needs. A single adult on Ontario Works receives $733 per month, a rate that hasn’t increased since 2018.
Local charities have also struggled to meet demand. St. Vincent De Paul provided over 46,000 meals in 2024, compared to just 18,347 in 2019. Martha’s Table, a Kingston meal program, reported a 300% increase in demand since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ronda Candy, executive director of Martha’s Table, said the organization has started serving more families, including young children and infants. A newly purchased high chair symbolizes the growing need to support Kingston’s youngest residents.
Calls for Action
The motion calls on the Ontario government to:
- Raise social assistance rates to match inflation.
- Increase funding for school meal programs.
- Work toward a universal school food program.
- Establish a guaranteed livable basic income.
It also urges federal and provincial leaders to incorporate food insecurity reduction into policies and platforms.
A Provincial and National Concern
Kingston joins Mississauga and Toronto, which declared similar emergencies in late 2024. Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish highlighted the province’s fastest-growing food bank usage rate, describing the crisis as “unacceptable and unsustainable.”
Statistics Canada reports food insecurity in Canada is at its highest level in 20 years. PROOF Canada, a food insecurity research program, warns that children in food-insecure households face higher risks of mental health issues and long-term challenges.
Government Response
The Ontario government recently raised Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates by 17% and tied them to inflation. It also introduced tax credits, increased the minimum wage to $17.20, and invested in student nutrition programs.
However, critics argue these measures do not adequately address the root causes of food insecurity, especially as inflation continues to impact living costs.
A Push for Long-Term Solutions
Kingston’s emergency declaration aims to raise awareness and pressure higher levels of government to act. “This motion is about exhausting every option to help those in need,” said Councillor Ridge.
Kingston’s leaders hope this declaration will drive policy changes and ensure food insecurity remains a priority in upcoming elections.
For more information about food support services in Kingston, visit local municipal or charity websites.
More…
