Legislation Debated as Responses to Household Food Insecurity in Canada, 1995-2012

Household food insecurity (HFI) is a persistent problem in Canada affecting over 4 million people in 2012. This study identifies the policy actions that Canadian legislators in 4 jurisdictions advanced to address HFI between 1995 and 2012 and examines which suggestions led to legislation. We reviewed Hansard extracts from legislative debates to identify specific policy proposals as a starting point for finding bills. We found that legislators debated a variety of policy actions but legislative proposals were from a narrow range that focused on food provision and contributed to the validation of food banks as a policy response to HFI.