Ending food insecurity is a democratic imperative – Policy Options

September 12, 2025

When you’re hungry, political participation comes last. It’s time to treat food security as a democratic investment.

We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet at least 10 million Canadians struggle to put food on the table. Hunger is a quiet, gnawing anxiety that threads its way through every facet of life. The pause before declining a social invitation. The invisible arithmetic at the grocery store. The daily compromises, big and small, and the hidden shame that takes a heavy toll.

But beyond the day-to-day sacrifices, food insecurity erodes the ability to fully participate in civic life and in the democratic decisions that shape how we live together.

Read More: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/09/democracy-hunger/