Maple Leaf Foods campaign looks to advance Canada Disability Benefit

Who: Maple Leaf Foods

What: The company and its Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security have launched a campaign to advance the creation of the Canada Disability Benefit.

In Canada, one of the world's wealthiest countries, almost six million people struggle to access sufficient food, and 50% of people facing food insecurity have a disability. 

"Living with a disability should not mean a life of poverty and hunger," said Sarah Stern, leader, Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security, in a statement. "Our focus is to accelerate structural solutions to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Through the creation of the Canada Disability Benefit, addressing the injustice of food insecurity among people with disabilities is within our reach as a nation. We were very pleased to see Bill C-22 debated in the House yesterday and encourage the government to expeditiously design and implement the Benefit."

The campaign highlights Disability Without Poverty's work to ask the public to show their support for the Canada Disability Benefit. They are calling on Canadians to help by sending a letter to their MP in support.

"The Canada Disability Benefit needs to be a high political priority because it will offer real support to those living with disabilities," Rabia Khedr, national director, Disability Without Poverty, stated. "The Canada Disability Benefit has received broad political support and we urge the government to fast track its design and implementation. We are grateful for support from our partners in helping to elevate this issue as one that needs immediate action."