Projects that provide food security are part of the initiatives in Ontario. Projects that provide food security are part of the initiatives in Ontario. Projects that provide food security are part of the initiatives in Ontario.
Thunder Bay, Ont.-Ontario is working with Indigenous partners to deliver 14 projects that will help people break the cycle of poverty, increase access to safe and nutritious food, find good jobs and end homelessness, while meeting the unique challenges and needs of First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples.
"We know that Indigenous individuals and families face far greater rates of poverty than their non-Indigenous neighbors," says Peter Milczyn, Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy. "That's why we created a dedicated funding stream for Indigenous-led organizations and communities within the Local Poverty Reduction Fund. It helps ensure the unique challenges and needs of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples are addressed. Their findings can inform future policy, lead to more strategic investments, and result in better outcomes. This year, we are investing in projects that will help increase access to safe and nutritious food across the province as part of a food security strategy that will lay the foundation for people to live healthy and active lives."
In Thunder Bay, Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic will receive support to help vulnerable people access housing, income support, education, banking services, employment or government benefits and services. And Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) will receive support to provide resources to multiple NAN communities that are working to increase access to safe and nutritious food through the Kiitigaan Megwe-Nishnawbe, or Good Things Growing Among People program, to develop ways to measure the effectiveness of culturally appropriate Indigenous food systems evaluation practices. Local food developers will help each community determine how and what they measure to guide their community food practices and innovations.
In total, 14 projects are being funded through Ontario's Local Poverty Reduction Fund. Part of this funding supports data collection, which will help develop more effective poverty reduction programs.
"Food security and poverty are critical issues in our First Nation Communities and I applaud Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic and Nishawbe Aski Nation for their innovative approaches to addressing these challenges," says Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan. "Both organizations offer individuals access to the services and supports they need to live independently and with dignity, which is why I am proud of our government's support of these projects through Ontario's Local Poverty Reduction Fund."
Ontario is investing more than $16 million in 48 projects in communities across Ontario, including over $6 million in 20 employment and income security projects, more than $5 million in 14 projects from Indigenous-led organizations, $3 million in 12 projects that are homelessness-related, and more than $4.5 million in 14 projects that are related to food security.
