Household Food Insecurity in Ontario during a Period of Poverty Reduction, 2005–2014
Abstract
Abstract
Using data from five cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey spanning 2005 to 2014, we assessed changes in household food insecurity in Ontario after the 2007 introduction of the Ontario Child Benefit and the 2008 implementation of the province’s poverty reduction strategy. Although the provincial prevalence of food insecurity remained relatively stable, food insecurity declined significantly among families who received the Ontario Child Benefit in 2009–2010 and 2011–2012 compared with 2005. Our findings suggest that household food insecurity can be reduced by modest income supplements, but more deliberate intervention is required to have a substantial, sustained impact on food insecurity.
Résumé
À l’aide des données provenant de cinq cycles de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes s’étendant de 2005 à 2014, les auteurs mesurent l’évolution de l’insécurité alimentaire en Ontario après l’instauration, en 2007, de la prestation ontarienne pour enfants et la mise en œuvre, en 2008, de la stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté de la province. Bien que sa prévalence en Ontario soit demeurée relativement stable, l’insécurité alimentaire a sensiblement décliné chez les familles qui ont bénéficié de la prestation ontarienne pour enfants en 2009–2010 et 2011–2012, par rapport à 2005. Les constatations des auteurs donnent à penser que l’insécurité alimentaire des ménages peut être réduite grâce à de modestes suppléments de revenu, mais qu’une intervention mieux pensée s’impose pour que l’incidence des mesures prises sur l’insécurité alimentaire soit plus importante et davantage soutenue.
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Canadian Public Policy
Volume 45 • Number 1 • March 2019
Pages: 93 - 104
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© Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de politiques.
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Published online: 22 February 2019
Published in print: March 2019
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Canadian Public Policy 2019 45:1, 93-104
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