New Brunswick Food Bank Reports Assistance Provided to 50 Military Families
A New Brunswick food bank reports that numerous military families are utilizing its services due to financial constraints.
Ms. Buckley stated that their food bank assists 450 families monthly, with 40 to 50 of them being military families. Oromocto is situated near Canada’s largest military base of Gagetown.
In the video, Ms. Ferreri, who holds the critic position for families, children, and social development in her party, expressed being “floored” by this revelation.
Ms. Buckley later confirmed to The Epoch Times that to her knowledge, all the families receiving assistance are active duty military personnel, not veterans.
“I’ve been here for 13 years and that number has been steadily increasing,” Ms. Buckley remarked. She noted that the figure has risen significantly during the pandemic and has remained consistent since.
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Ms. Buckley also noted that military families are responsible for paying their heating costs, which, along with food expenses, have been affected by the federal government’s carbon tax.
Ms. Ferreri raised the issue in the House of Commons on March 18, questioning if the Liberals would eliminate the tax to ease the cost of living burden.
Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, defended the government’s actions, mentioning a substantial raise given to troops last year and accused the Tories of hypocrisy for not supporting the Liberal budget.
Responding to inquiries from The Epoch Times regarding military families using food banks in New Brunswick, the Department of National Defence (DND) acknowledged that armed forces members, like many Canadians, are facing challenges with increased prices and housing costs.
Spokesperson Kened Sadiku stated that DND is taking the issue seriously, although they cannot assess the extent to which CAF members are seeking external assistance.
DND highlighted various programs available for active duty CAF members, including on-base housing, a spousal employment initiative, and a 12.03 percent compounded salary hike introduced between 2021 and 2025.
The department also emphasized that troops in need of financial assistance should approach their chain of command, with resources potentially available on a case-by-case basis.
The utilization of food banks by military families reflects a broader trend across Canada in recent years, as more Canadians are relying on such services due to rising living costs.
The report also asserted that non-profit food programs across the country require a total funding increase of $4 billion to meet the current demand.
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
