"The people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon join with many others in the Saskatoon region in celebrating the Grand Opening of the Good Food Junction cooperative store located at Station 20 West on 20th St. Since 1997, no full-service grocery store has operated in our core neighbourhoo
ds. Many residents in the
neighbourhood have no cars and thus have little access to healthy,
affordable food. Access to healthy food is vital for people’s well-being
and self-reliance.
During this Poverty Awareness Week, we are challenged to take time to look candidly at the problems faced by many in our city. The poor in our midst include a significant number of children. They include seniors, low wage earners, Aboriginal peoples, newly arrived refugees and immigrants, and those with disabilities. It is disturbing to note that Canadians with disabilities face 53% higher unemployment rates. In Saskatchewan, 7 out of 10 long-term social assistance clients have a disability.
A month ago, I took part in the ‘Food Basket Challenge’, living for a week on a food basket from the Food Bank. There is a real poverty in not choosing your own food, having someone else set your diet for the week. Participants were told to limit their spending on food to $5.00 for the week (in addition to our food basket). We had to make difficult choices between basic necessities. People in poverty have to make those tough choices all the time. With the economic growth in Saskatchewan over the last few years, there has been an increase in housing costs which have made homeownership difficult for many. The cost of rental units have also dramatically increased across the province. People living in poverty often have to choose between a roof
over their head and purchasing the food they need to live.
I encourage you to recommit yourself to at least some small action on behalf of those in poverty in our midst: join a support group working to reduce and eliminate poverty; challenge myths and stereotypes about poverty; discuss poverty solutions with others; support policies that help to address poverty. Reducing poverty creates a better and stronger community for everyone; a brighter future for our children, enough resources for everyone to meet basic needs, proper health care, a community we can be proud of."
Bishop Donald Bolen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon
During this Poverty Awareness Week, we are challenged to take time to look candidly at the problems faced by many in our city. The poor in our midst include a significant number of children. They include seniors, low wage earners, Aboriginal peoples, newly arrived refugees and immigrants, and those with disabilities. It is disturbing to note that Canadians with disabilities face 53% higher unemployment rates. In Saskatchewan, 7 out of 10 long-term social assistance clients have a disability.
A month ago, I took part in the ‘Food Basket Challenge’, living for a week on a food basket from the Food Bank. There is a real poverty in not choosing your own food, having someone else set your diet for the week. Participants were told to limit their spending on food to $5.00 for the week (in addition to our food basket). We had to make difficult choices between basic necessities. People in poverty have to make those tough choices all the time. With the economic growth in Saskatchewan over the last few years, there has been an increase in housing costs which have made homeownership difficult for many. The cost of rental units have also dramatically increased across the province. People living in poverty often have to choose between a roof
over their head and purchasing the food they need to live.
I encourage you to recommit yourself to at least some small action on behalf of those in poverty in our midst: join a support group working to reduce and eliminate poverty; challenge myths and stereotypes about poverty; discuss poverty solutions with others; support policies that help to address poverty. Reducing poverty creates a better and stronger community for everyone; a brighter future for our children, enough resources for everyone to meet basic needs, proper health care, a community we can be proud of."
Bishop Donald Bolen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon
