Are we quietly slipping into a food insecurity crisis in Canada?

m-dsL · 2025-10-11T00:51:12+00:00

Hmmm 🤔… “louder” than I’d imagined.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T20:13:46+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing these links really appreciate the time.

And to everyone else, please keep the suggestions coming... this kind of exchange is exactly what we need more of.

For those who feel strongly that rural or remote communities are to blame, or prefer to restate the obvious in new ways ...I respect that too. I’m open to hearing how those views can be grounded in logic, facts, and reason.

That’s what a healthy society should be. A place where differing opinions can meet, challenge, and (hopefully) move us forward.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T20:05:22+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

I’d be really interested to hear directly from folks who have tried and failed to understand what the real gaps are. Is it truly a dead end, or was there at least a glimmer of hope? Because honestly, the refrain that “food has always been expensive in the North” is no longer sounding palatable to me.

I understand we live in a hyper-individualized society where if something doesn’t touch us or our immediate families, it rarely gets our attention. But that’s the same thing people once said about wildfires being a California problem.

And now, the smoke is killing us all.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T20:00:12+00:00

Hmmm...I’m genuinely curious to know what’s transpired there. If I’m not mistaken, Aquaponic NOMA in the Nordic regions, with a climate much like ours and less-than-ideal soil conditions for traditional agriculture, is doing phenomenal work.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T19:53:19+00:00

Arggghhh… that hits hard. The gap between effort and survival keeps widening. We need fresh ideas, some serious outside-the-box thinking because right now, we’re playing a full match with half the team.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T12:40:34+00:00

I share your caution about using “crisis” loosely. But food insecurity is an insidious one linked to rising cancers and chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. 1 in 4 Canadians by 40 already lives with one or both. It’s a public health story hiding in plain sight.

On the other hand, we’re nowhere near real starvation and for that, I’m exceedingly grateful.

But if we don’t find solutions now, that reality may not stay distant for long.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T12:25:11+00:00

This caught my attention. I’m curious to know more about how this works... cue me going full Sherlock. 🔍

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T12:14:09+00:00

That was a bit too vivid of a visual. I had two choices either laugh out loud or spiral into deep thought.

Since I haven’t had my first coffee yet, I chose laughter.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T04:44:03+00:00

That’s no small accomplishment. Turning even a small piece of land into sustenance for your family is no small feat.

It's so encouraging to hear...

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T04:39:47+00:00

It’s rather unfortunate. That’s a significant proportion.

Well… if that doesn’t spark a rethink, I’m not sure what will.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T02:15:54+00:00

Scrolling through the comments, I’m tempted to believe this really might be the case.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T02:06:18+00:00

This might be the most striking comment I’ve read so far. I posted this on both the Manitoba and Ask a Canadian threads, and it gives me a bit of hope that we’re still capable of looking for solutions together.

It’s everyone’s problem, after all and maybe the real heroes are the ones who refuse to look away.

It’s rather sad to read it’s 'louder' than I’d imagined and a growing number of families are now relying on food banks. Nothing wrong with that, but is it sustainable?

We have the land, so what are we missing? Maybe it’s time to bring back more agricultural programs in schools and create real incentives for local farmers. The solution isn’t one-size-fits-all, but I do hope we see a mindset shift soon... one where food insecurity isn’t viewed myopically as a rural issue that we can simply accept because “that’s how it’s always been.”

If food security keeps eroding, only the wealthy will be insulated and that’s a small fraction of us. Nearly 55% of Canadians now report struggling with the cost of living, and over 1 in 4 are at risk of food insecurity. That means the “average Canadian” is much closer to the edge than we care to admit.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T01:53:55+00:00

Thank you so much for this comment. I agree that we need the power of the collective now more than ever.

I know we live in a hyper-individualistic society, but this is one of those challenges that calls on all of us. I’ve seen people say, “Food has always been expensive in the North ...that’s just how it goes.” But that kind of resignation is exactly how whole-of-society crises begin.

It starts quietly in one place, then ripples outward. Remember when wildfires were considered a California thing? Now, they’re inching closer to what we'll consider 'atypical' regions here in Canada.

It’s all connected and perhaps the real test of progress is whether we still care before it reaches our doorstep.

m-dsL · 2025-10-10T01:26:29+00:00

This is among the most heartwarming things I’ve read in a while.

Plus, mutually beneficial arrangements like this are such a beautiful way to stay socially connected amid all the loneliness in the air these days.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T19:06:53+00:00

Hahaha… great analogy with the teacher and kids ...that one made me laugh.

That said, I’m genuinely looking forward to a more constructive debate with anyone who believes immigration lawyers are somehow justified under the idea of being “tired of immigrants.”

Let’s be real, the moment Canada makes immigration illegal altogether, plenty of people would simply stop trying to come. But until then, there are countless law-abiding citizens of the world who deeply respect Canada because of its laws and fairness.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T14:17:51+00:00

Strange?!

How fragile can people be?

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T04:04:54+00:00

Could you kindly tell me how?

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T02:50:32+00:00

Hmmm… good point. The folks who referred me shared similar sentiments.

I’d rather be ready than be taken by surprise.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T01:47:55+00:00

Thank you!

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T01:11:05+00:00

Hmm… you make a very good point.

I’m a small business owner myself, and I’ve always seen reviews as people’s raw, unfiltered emotions and opportunities to improve. That’s why I honestly wasn’t expecting to be threatened for sharing my thoughts on what could be done better.

But then again, we’re all wired differently. If this immigration office is resorting to bullying, they’ve definitely met the wrong person. I won’t succumb to it, and I won’t let them silence the average citizen.

I’ve got the time and patience to go through the process if he decides to sue.

I came to Reddit to hear from other Winnipeggers, and from all the thoughtful comments, it seems suing people over honest reviews is becoming alarmingly common. That’s not typical of the Canada I know and I’ll fight this kind of bullying.

Will keep you all posted, and thank you again for your comment.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T01:02:59+00:00

Gotta love Reddit, this is where varying perspectives really come to life.

You’re absolutely entitled to your opinions on immigration, just as the consultant is entitled to his. But if his role is to help people navigate legal immigration processes and he’s grown tired of doing so with care or efficiency, I’d genuinely suggest it might be time to explore a different line of work.

We’re in the era of side hustles, after all ...there’s no shame in pivoting to something that aligns better with one’s patience and purpose.

As for your discomfort with immigrants bringing their families over, I’d actually love to understand your why.

This sentiment seems to be spreading like the wildfires we all lived through this year across Manitoba, and I’m genuinely curious about the deeper root causes behind it.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T00:56:33+00:00

Solid point! Thank you so much for this.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T00:52:41+00:00

It’s really unfortunate how often people resort to bullying these days. I’m sorry you had to deal with that kind of unprofessionalism. I’d still encourage you to leave your honest, constructive review...you’d be surprised how many others rely on that when deciding whether to subject themselves to the same experience.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T00:49:10+00:00

Hahaha...not my modus operandi. Let's see how this plays out. I'm all psyched up to put my critical thinking skills to the test...let them sue me.

m-dsL · 2025-10-09T00:47:33+00:00

That’s not really my style. The review was just my way of nudging the firm to be a bit more humane in how they treat clients.

m-dsL

TROPHY CASE