The Alberta NDP is calling on the UCP government to immediately address the cost-of-living crisis and take the pressure off hard-working Albertans who are struggling to make ends meet.
We are in the worst crisis of affordability in 40 years and Albertans need help today. The UCP has made a bad situation worse by increasing income taxes, property taxes, school fees, utilities, auto insurance, tuition, debt on student loans, park and camping fees while also cutting benefits for families.
The Leduc and District Food Bank Association is seeing an increase of 25 to 35 per cent of clients and some months it’s even higher. Many of those new clients have never used a food bank or needed any type of social services before.
The majority reported that their clients’ reasons for accessing the food bank are rising utility costs, static government benefits, unemployment, inflation and rising food costs.
Not only is the crisis in the cost of living forcing some Albertans to choose between paying their bills and putting food on the table but food banks are also hurt by the rising cost of food, utilities, transportation and fuel, which is challenging their ability to serve their community.
Despite benefiting from soaring energy prices the UCP government has stood idly by while Albertans across our province struggle with financial pressures from rising gas prices that impact their ability to get to work, to rising utility bills that impact their ability to keep the lights on, to rising food prices that limit what they are able to put on the table.