New study reveals Filipino Canadians are among those struggling with food insecurity

If an individual can’t afford to have an adequate quality diet or enough amount of food — it is food insecurity. And Filipinos in Canada are among the growing number of Canadians who face this alarming problem.

In a study based on a 2021 Canadian Income Survey, a bitter truth surfaced: the percentage of families struggling with food insecurity increased from 16 percent in 2021 to 18 percent in 2022.

With Quebec claiming the lowest spot at 14 percent, New Brunswick and Alberta at 22 percent and Newfoundland and Labrador clinching the top spot at 23 percent, the study decodes the enigma of families with insufficient food on their plates.

Quoting the study, “The observed difference in food insecurity rates between families with a male and female major income earner; female lone parent families, and other family types — Filipino Canadian or Black and non-racialized, non-indigenous major income earners.”

“We’re not talking about some people who are skipping the odd meal. We have a potential starvation dilemma in Canada” — Alex Boyd, food bank CEO

A growing number of Canadians are facing food insecurity, including working people. We need #BasicIncome.https://t.co/phvzCy2dT4

— UBI Works 🇨🇦 (@ubi_works) May 15, 2023

Grappling hard with this issue are Black Canadians, taking the lead at 38 percent, followed by Filipino Canadians (28%), South-East Asian (23%) and South Asian Canadians (19%).

Furthermore, Chinese Canadians, Latin American Canadians and other non-racialized, non-indigenous families share a statistically similar percentage.

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Some of the factors at play

Seniority and gender dynamics

Age plays a major role. Households led by seniors only report 10 percent of food insecurity in 2022. Gender is also a factor, with families led by a female major income earner reporting a 21 percent rate, potentially affected by gender-based income differences.

Unemployment and homeownership

Intertwining as major players are unemployment and education. Food insecurity is prevalent among those who are unemployed, revealing the impact of economic factors on well-being.

Meanwhile, homeownership also affects food insecurity. There is a lower level of food insecurity (9%) for those who are mortgage-free. However, it is significantly higher at 16 percent for those who are still tied to their mortgage.

Live news: Nearly 7 million Canadians experienced food insecurity in 2022, study sayshttps://t.co/tdNzZRgJ0y pic.twitter.com/ZQGv3dQbS6

— National Post (@nationalpost) November 14, 2023

The hard truth of disparity among immigrants, indigenous families and racialized families

Unfortunately, in the study’s results, certain notes echo louder. Immigrants who arrived in Canada from 2013 to 2022 reveal a 26 percent food insecurity rate while racialized families follow suit at 23 percent.

Indigenous communities held a higher rate compared to their non-indigenous counterparts and non-racialized families at only 16 percent.

As the study delves deep into the data, it found that food uncertainty is a chronic condition, affecting different aspects. The study found the connection between this concern and socio-demographic and economic characteristics, unmet health care needs, economic characteristics, mental health and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

The data serves as the essential piece in unveiling the worrisome amount of Canadian communities grappling with food insecurity — a wake-up alarm for the local government to probe into the existing conditions of the affected families.