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Lynn McIntyre, Krista RondeauDept of Community Health Sciences, U of Calgary ,

Cathy Mah, CAMH and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

CPHA 2013 Conference, Ottawa, June 11, 2013

How is food insecurity framed as a problem in

the Canadian public policy domain?

Food secure, 87.4%

Marginal food insecurity, 4.1%

Moderate food insecurity, 6.0%

Severe food insecurity, 2.6%

Household food securityCanada 2012

Food secureMarginal food insecurityModerate food insecuritySevere food insecurity

Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2012, data rounded

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Federal and provincial social policies directed at food insecurity have been ineffective at reducing food insecurity rates.

A greater understanding of how food insecurity is problematized in key political institutions offers the opportunity to align interventions and policy action in ways that are more acceptable to policymakers.

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Problems Policies Politics

WindowsEntrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs

Framing or problem definition is a key element in policy change

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What is frame-critical analysis?

SociaI constructionist approach.Maps relationships of policy actors’ understanding of the problem, rhetoric in the policy domain, and policy actions:

What is the problem?Who is responsible?What needs to be done?

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Using frame-critical analysis, to examine how household food insecurity is framed as a policy problem in policy debates in Canada.

Objective

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• Hansards of NS, BC, ON, Fed 1995-2012• Includes committee hearings• Government reports since 1995• NVivo • Document coding framework and two

iterations of code sets• Refining interpretation through peer

debriefing• Synthesis and triangulation

Methods

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ResultsThe number of children who are hungry has gone up by

50%.... We're talking about children who go to school and can't learn properly because they are hungry and

they are cold… You've given them condescending food tips like having bread without butter or having pasta

with no sauce…Just tell them that they have to go to bed hungry, that they have to do their part so you can deliver

your tax cut to the wealthy Ontarians. (ON Hansard 1996)

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Debates use framing template We [gov’t] think all Canadians deserve a tax

break and that is why we are pursuing a reduction in the GST from 7% to 6% and ultimately down to 5%. That will be felt even more by those who make less income. Every penny, every dime, every dollar, every $10, every $100 makes a difference to somebody who has to pay for food, utilities and all of those things. (Federal Hansard 2006)

If people are wondering why NDP MPs …bring such passion to this issue of raising the retirement age two years, it is because of the kinds of comments we are getting. People understand what the impacts are. They understand that what is being done with the government's irresponsible actions, forcing seniors out into the blueberry fields, is absolutely, totally unacceptable. (Federal Hansard 2012)

Who is responsible?

What is the problem?

What needs to be done?

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Name it and who experiences it• Hunger (food insecurity term rarely used)• Children • Food bank users: Hunger Count numbers• The poor or needy• “The vulnerable” but honest folk• Hard working citizens

Frame it as an outcome • Poverty – framed through employment• High cost of living, housing, taxes• Government failure• The Economy• Surprising, not surprising

Ways to talk about food insecurity

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Consequences Impacts on children Poor nutrition generating poor health

(Later years obesity) Poor health adds costs to the

healthcare system Social impacts, particularly crime Physical and mental suffering

Urgency Most often a ‘crisis’ Starving children and starving

people often discussed but not for urgent action

(Rarely noted that people do not starve to death in Canada)

Other characterizations

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More government money Employment Income Social assistance Employment or job

creation programs Affordable housing, child

care, education

Someone else’s money Increase minimum wages Implement price controls on

housing or food Reduce taxes for vulnerable

segment of the population

SOLUTIONS

plus thanks to food bank volunteers

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Food Banks in ON

British Columbia uniquely suggests that food insecurity is a failure of the food system.

Structuralism in NSNova Scotia discourse is the most

structural; considers food insecurity an outcome of poverty.

Interprovincial and Federal comparison highlights

Grown in BC

Rhetorical device in YOW

Harris years stand out for an authentic debate about hunger. Food banks at the heart of the conversation.

Disapproval of reckless government policies or for approval of initiatives based on affected population.

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Food insecurity as hunger or in relation to food banks is frequently mentioned in political discourses To date, the use is for

rhetorical impact rather than to actually frame policy to address the problem

Canadian policy actors do speak about poverty and poverty reduction

Could the framing of food insecurity be made a genuine target for poverty reduction, rather than just compelling imagery?

Conclusions

http://nutritionalsciences.lamp.utoronto.ca

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Thank you