Two of the candidates to become the next MPP in Nipissing spoke at Friday’s Nipissing area food roundtable event.

Organizer Kathleen Jodouin says it’s important that this issue gets attention in the campaign.

“Some of these social and health issues fall aside when we look at the top issues. We want to make sure that food security comes to the top and is a priority for candidates,” Jodouin says.
She says people may have to choose between their housing, food and transportation costs as they can’t afford all of them and that’s where the tough decisions come in.

Joe Bradbury is the Chief Administrative Officer of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board.

He says 40 % of those with food security concerns have had suicide thoughts within the last year.

“To eliminate poverty in a community you need strong employment programs. You have to retrain and reconnect individuals. We’ve got some great pilots in the community but we don’t have enough investment,” he says.

Among the guest speakers were also Dr. Jim Chirico, the medical officer of health and Lana Mitchell, the executive director of Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing.

Filed under: food security