St. John’s, N.L. (December 6, 2024) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port, is raising concerns over the continued rise in food bank usage across Newfoundland and Labrador and the many families and seniors who are trying to make ends meet, especially as the Christmas season approaches.

The recently released Canada’s Food Price Report 2025 shows a 3.8 per cent increase in food cost in 2024 for Newfoundland and Labrador. Price hikes of up to five per cent are expected nationally in the next year and meat prices are likely to rise between four and six per cent. Since 2021, food bank visits have jumped 50 per cent in Newfoundland and Labrador, while 30 per cent of food banks across Canada report running out of supplies.

“Rising costs, driven in part by the Liberal carbon tax, are pushing food prices higher and stretching food banks to their breaking point,” said Wakeham. “It’s deeply troubling that instead of long-term solutions to help people put food on their tables, the Liberals are focused on temporary tax gimmicks and ignoring the real challenges families and seniors face.”

“This Christmas season, we recognize the extraordinary efforts of food banks and the generosity of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who support them,” added Wakeham. “However, we need strong leadership and immediate action to address affordability and to better support organizations that feed our most vulnerable. We must ensure no one is left behind.”

A PC government led by Tony Wakeham would prioritize making life more affordable. This includes immediately increasing the Seniors’ Benefit by 20 per cent, introducing a new Poverty Reduction and Prevention Strategy, and conducting a comprehensive review of all provincial taxes and fees to reduce or eliminate those that impact people the most. This includes fighting against the Liberal carbon tax and scrapping Furey’s sugar tax.