Proposed federal grocery rebate causes mixed reaction among Lethbridge organizations
The federal budget, tabled Tuesday, introduced a new, targeted inflation-relief program to help 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians and families save money on groceries.
However, the new rebate has seen a mixed reaction in Lethbridge.
"While any support is greatly appreciated, we are actually quite disappointed," said Danielle McIntyre, executive director of the Interfaith Food Bank.
"We find that the grocery rebate is not only not sufficient, it also is only a one-time (sum) and doesn't address any of the root causes that are leading to the rise in grocery costs."
The grocery rebate would provide eligible couples with two children up to an extra $467, delivered through the Canada Revenue Agency as soon as possible after the legislation passes.
Single Canadians without children can qualify for an extra $234, while seniors can get an average of $225.
"We actually did a comparison against a food-bank hamper and for a single individual, we offer a food-bank hamper that offers five to seven days worth of groceries," McIntyre said.
"The rebate would provide for two of those hampers – not quite two of those hampers – for single individuals or one hamper for a family of four and that has to last a month."
The new rebate comes at the same time Lethbridge's food banks are seeing record demand.
Overall, the one-time rebate is expected to cost $2.5 billion.
With the rise in food costs, seniors are using programs like Meals on Wheels more than ever before.
Rob Miyashiro, executive director of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, says he's pleased to see the rebate.
"What this extra money will do for seniors in our city is it might allow them or should allow them to purchase more meals," Miyashiro said.
"Some people right now can only afford to purchase three meals a week."
Miyashiro says each meal costs between $7 and $9.
He says the program is serving more than 100 people per day, with more than 27,000 meals provided each year.
"We've only had one increase in prices for Meals on Wheels in six years and now with the cost of groceries going up the way it has been, we're running a really tight line to make Meals on Wheels a program," Miyashiro added.
According to Statistics Canada's latest inflation report, food prices rose 10.6 per cent in February compared to a year ago.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.