Question Period (25 March 2026)

From Hansard (25 March 2026)

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Funding for Food Banks

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A budget is where a government makes their priorities clear. And this government’s priorities are crystal clear in this bad-news budget. They cut supports for people while ensuring bankers and bondholders on Bay Street and Wall Street get $1.2 billion of Saskatchewan taxpayer money, all while $1 million in funding is being cut from Saskatchewan food banks. The Moose Jaw Food Bank is forced to limit visits because of the overwhelming need for support.

Why is the minister cutting food bank support? And will he restore this funding?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a government that takes very seriously the issue of protecting our citizens and making life more affordable. The Finance minister just ran through a laundry list of affordability measures, Mr. Speaker, that this government undertakes every year — $2.5 billion worth of affordability measures.

With regards to the food bank, Mr. Speaker, that was a two-year, $2 million commitment that this government made to help the food banks out during a time of unprecedented inflation, when inflation was 6, 7, 8 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, this year’s budget has targeted increases in a number of areas including the low-income tax credit, doubling of the active families benefit, increasing the disability tax credit, and removing another 54,000 people off the tax rolls, Mr. Speaker. This is what making life more affordable in the best province in this country looks like. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

Brittney Senger: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tax credits do nothing to give people emergency support. The executive director of the Moose Jaw Food Bank told the media, “What we are seeing is something we’ve never experienced before.”

One thousand households visit each month. A third of their clients are children. Fifty new visitors come through the door each month that have never used a food bank. The food bank states that they are seeing more working-class families and low-income seniors than ever before.

The government’s response to this? The Minister of Finance cut their funding. And absolute silence from the government’s Moose Jaw MLAs.

Will the minister restore this emergency funding that the bad-news budget cut?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And with regards again to the issue of the food bank funding, the commitment was made for two years, $2 million during a time of unprecedented inflation, when inflation rates — driven largely by the Liberal-NDP coalition government in Ottawa — were 6, 7, up to 8, 9 per cent.

We value, Mr. Speaker, we value the work that food banks do across Saskatchewan. Mr. Speaker . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Member from Cumberland.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And we value the work that food banks across Saskatchewan in addition to all of our community-based organizations do, Mr. Speaker. There’s several non-profits, literally thousands around Saskatchewan, and that’s what makes Saskatchewan such a great place to live, work, and raise a family, Mr. Speaker. This is a government that . . . We include $2.5 billion worth of affordability initiatives every year. And that’s work that this government will continue to do on behalf of the people of this province.

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