City Council approves Food Security Community Action Plan

BRANTFORD, ON – At their meeting held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Brantford City Council approved the Food Security Community Action Plan presented by City of Brantford staff, in partnership with the Brant Food System Coalition, in an effort to address the local Food Insecurity Emergency declared in March 2025. This declaration, brought forward by Ward 5 Councillor Mandy Samwell, highlighted how increasing economic and social pressures have caused inflation to outpace incomes and compound barriers to accessing food, housing, and other necessities.

“Taking action against food insecurity involves addressing the root causes. Food security is not just about food, it is primarily about lack of income, unaffordable housing, and policies that leave people behind.” said Mandy Samwell, Ward 5 Councillor, City of Brantford. “The Food Security Community Action Plan is our community’s commitment to advocacy, informed by real community input. It provides a roadmap for collaboration across all levels of government, non-profit organizations, and private sector partners to drive lasting policy and system improvements. When we work together and keep people at the center, meaningful change is possible.”

Rising rates of food insecurity in communities across Ontario is primarily driven by insufficient incomes for individuals and families to be able to afford nutritious and appropriate food. There are currently no communities in Ontario where minimum wage or income support programs are enough for an individual to pay for necessities, including food and housing.

“More and more community members are experiencing poverty each year, resulting in increased reliance on the Brantford Food Bank to put meals on the table,” said Heather Vanner, Executive Director, Community Resource Service, Brantford Food Bank. “Food banks and emergency meal programs were once thought to be temporary supports, but now they are part of the social safety net for many individuals and families. The Brantford Food Bank supports the collaboration outlined in the Food Security Action Plan to drive the necessary change to ensure that individuals and families are able to consistently meet their basic needs”.

Food Security Forum

On June 5, 2025, the Brantford Food System Coalition and the City of Brantford welcomed over 50 representatives to a Food Security Forum where leaders across Brantford’s food system collaboratively discussed the action needed to address the causes of food insecurity. The Food Security Community Action Plan is the result of those discussions and outlines next steps on how to address and support individuals and families to be able to meet their basic necessities:

1. Advocacy for System and Policy Changes: advocating to levels of government responsible for the policy and systemic changes necessary to ensure that individuals and families can consistently access enough income to afford necessities, including food and housing.
2. Community Awareness and Education: ensuring that community members are kept informed about the food security supports that are available and how they can be accessed.
3. Supporting Local Collaboration: increasing knowledge and resource sharing among leaders across Brantford’s local food system, to coordinate services and reduce competition.

For more information about how to get involved in the work of the Brantford Food System Coalition, or to learn more about local food security resources, visit: FeedBrant.ca.

Current living wages

• The calculated Living Wage for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Niagara regions is $20.90 per hour ($3,619 per month).
• Ontario Minimum Wage is $17.20 per hour.
• Ontario Works (OW) maximum monthly rates for single individuals is $733 per month.
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) maximum monthly rates for single individuals is $1,408 per month.
• Old Age Security (OAS) maximum monthly rates for single individuals is $735.95 (ages 65 to 74) and $808.45 (ages 75 and up).

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Media Contact:

City of Brantford Communications and Community Engagement

519-759-4150 ext. 5779 | communications@brantford.ca