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The Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-12-07, Page 910 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, December 7, 2016 High hydro costs sending Ontarians to food banks, reports says John Miner Postmedia Rising power bills — not just lack of good jobs and high food prices — are forcing hun- dreds of thousands of Ontari- ans to turn to food banks, a new report by a food bank umbrella group warns. In yet another sign of the crisis caused for many in the province by soaring electric- ity rates, the Ontario Associ- ation of Food Banks says the fallout is putting the squeeze on the basic needs of many. "If people have to choose between keeping the lights on and going hungry, they go without food," Carolyn Stewart, executive director of the association, said ahead of Monday's release of the group's Hunger Report 2016. Soaring hydro costs have become an Achilles heel for the Liberal government, which took a costly plunge into green energy in 2009 and has been raked over the coals by the auditor general for ignoring its own energy planners and saddling con- sumers with billions of dol- lars above market prices for power. Amid polls showing her own popularity in free fall, Premier Kathleen Wynne recently surprised many by saying she hadn't paid "close enough attention to some of the daily stresses in Ontari- ans' lives," citing electricity prices, and vowing "I'm going to do my best to fix it." Wynne has promised relief beyond the scheduled removal in January of Ontar- io's eight per cent portion of the HST on hydro bills, but those details haven't been announced yet. Almost one year ago, the province cut a 10 per cent subsidy on hydro bills, worth more than $1 billion a year. The food bank association Season's Greetings We are proud to serve this fine community and wish all our neighbours peace and contentment during this Christmas season. May cherished memories of loved ones bring you comfort at this time. Joan & John Pollard Amy & Steve Fry Jeff & Maryellen Pollard MacKenzie & McCreath Funeral Homes Ltd. • Lucknow • Ripley reports suggests time is run- ning short, with many who rely on food banks now facing $300 to $700 monthly hydro bills. Across Ontario, food bank use remains seven per cent higher now than before the last recession, with more than 335,000 people turning to food banks monthly, the 2016 Hunger Report found. Of those relying on food banks, the association found, more than one-third are children — making them the largest single group of food bank users. While food prices esca- lated for several years before flattening out in 2016, Stew- art said they're not the main culprit. Instead, the report points the finger at hefty electricity bills, up more than 100 per cent in the last 10 years while Ontario social assistance has remained rel- atively stagnant. More than 60,000 homes were disconnected last year for failing to pay their elec- tricity bills and Ontarians have $172.5 million in out- showing the Liberals in trou- standing hydro bills. ble, and on the heels of a Ontario's food banks are Toronto -area byelection loss seeing more and more peo- for the government that ple who say they simply Wynne and others have can't keep up with rising blamed on rising power bills. hydro bills, Stewart said. Besides soaring power Some food banks have prices, the Hunger Report responded by offering utility blames disturbingly high support programs and hydro levels of food bank use on assistance. the type of work available in The report noted that Ontario. Ontario offers some relief While many people are through its low-income back to work after the reces- energy assistance program sion, fewer have full-time and the Ontario electricity jobs that allow them to support program, but added afford their most basic that's not enough. needs, the report said. And it's not just hungry "Without adequate people jolted by rising elec- income, those who are tricity bills. The report notes already struggling to cover that food banks — whose the basic cost of living must refrigerators and freezers use make incredibly difficult lots of power — are strug- choices: 'Do I heat my home gling to pay their electricity or do I put gas in my car? Do bills and meet the demand I pay the rent or put food on for service. the table?' " the report said. A little more than a week In London, Glen Pearson, ago, Wynne told a Liberal co-director of the London gathering it's unacceptable Food Bank, said part of the for people to have to choose 11 per cent increase in local between food and heating. food bank use compared to The surprise admission the previous year can be came amid recent polling chalked up to rising HUNGER RP,� 20161-0 electricity and shelter costs cited in the provincial report. Another factor driving usage up in London is the arrival of refugees, he said. "We are handling a num- ber of those that have been referred to us and we are glad to do that," he said. Along with electricity and housing costs, Pearson said food prices still remain a fac- tor for many people. "They might have levelled off somewhat, but now we are hearing those food prices are going to begin to start to climb," he said. "It just leaves people more at risk than they were before." Canada well positioned to capture export growth, FCC report says Diversity, technology and innovation in agriculture are key to maintaining Canada's competitive position in sup- plying food to the world, according to Farm Credit • iinrirI -" i the Air, There's a Feeling of Christmas... and we hope that wonderful feeling stays with you all year! As we look around us, we're filled with gratitude and joy for all the blessings we've been so fortunate to receive. Family, friends, neighbors and customers like you remind us of what's important at Christmas time and all year: kindness, goodwill, faith, trust and generosity. Thank you for lighting up our year with your visits. With gratitude in our hearts, we wish each and every one of you a magical, merry Christmas and a New Year that brings all the best to you and yours. Best Wishes & Happy Holidays from, Barry, Janine & Staff WELD! N &MACHINE SHOP LTD 37452 Glen's Hill Road R.R. #2,Auburn, ON NOM 1E0 • Ph: 519-529-7212 info@smythwelding.com • www.smythwelding.com Canada's (FCC) latest Cana- dian Agriculture's Productiv- ity and Trade report. "The wide variety of sec- tors is an underlying strength of Canadian agri- culture as far as trade is con- cerned," said J.P. Gervais, FCC's chief agricultural economist. "When markets decline in one sector, demand and output may increase in other sectors. Identifying and taking advantage of different mar- ket opportunities can lift the output of multiple sectors and allows Canadian agri- culture to maintain our com- petitive position as a reliable supplier of safe, high-quality food." Canada was the world's fifth largest agriculture exporter in 2015, behind the United States, China, the Netherlands and Brazil, according to the report. The U.S. was by far the world's largest single -coun- try agricultural exporter in 2015, with almost 15 per cent of global exports worth US$118.7 billion. 1,11"7:4116111 AINFRIM' ackuzco (�&g19 yir. HOLIDAY S g) Beginning ueeda , November 1, each time you make a purchase at one of the participating businesses prior to December 25th, the amount will be punched on your card in $10 increments: Spend a total of $150 and receive a chance to win one of THREE $150 Huron -Kinloss Shopping Spree. Passes will be available at businesses in the downtown and can be downloaded online from www.huronkinloss.com.