Whereas since 2020 an approximately 20 percent inflation rate has contributed to a cost-of-living crisis that has particularly impacted students, and post-secondary food banks are seeing dramatically increased use, including a tenfold increase in visits to the University of Victoria Students Society UVSS food bank from Spring 2020 to Spring 2024; And whereas local businesses and the broader community regularly support campus food banks with donations, but student societies require stable funding for student part-time staff positions in order to operate and expand food bank programs to meet the increased needs on their campuses: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Honourable Minister Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, to provide funding support to BC post-secondary student unions, by establishing a food security grant, equivalent to 1.50 per student, to address student food insecurity as evidenced by the increased use of post secondary campus food banks.
