Strengthening food security in Notre Dame

Notre Dame

As your MLA for Notre Dame, one of the most important conversations I have with families is about affordability and making sure everyone has access to healthy, reliable food. Food insecurity is a real challenge in our community, but what continues to inspire me is how people are coming together with compassion and determination to support one another.

Across Notre Dame, we are fortunate to have local partners stepping up in meaningful ways. Community-minded businesses are making a real impact. Every Monday, Seafood City donates 50 kilograms of produce, which is distributed to our child-care centres, local community kitchens and more. On Tuesdays, Harris Meats contributes 50 packages of ground beef to support those same efforts. These consistent contributions help ensure families have access to nutritious food close to home.

These efforts are strengthened by the generosity of the Schroeder Foundation. Through a yearly $25,000 donation, we can purchase milk that is delivered every week to 24 child-care centres in our community. Their commitment to supporting families, alongside their work with the Winnipeg School Division providing food subsidies, education supports, and bursaries, continues to make a meaningful difference here in Manitoba.

None of this work would be possible without the dedicated volunteers in Notre Dame who give their time each week to organize, deliver, and support these initiatives. Their commitment ensures that help reaches families who need it most.

We know that addressing food insecurity requires both immediate support and long-term solutions. Programs such as the universal nutrition program in our schools help ensure students have access to food during the day, removing barriers so they can focus on learning. Partnerships with organizations such as Harvest Manitoba to provide baby formula helps expand food supports for families across Winnipeg.

Our NDP government is committed to building a more affordable Manitoba for everyone. Alongside launching a grocery affordability study to better understand rising costs, we are taking action to put money back in Manitobans’ pockets. This includes removing the PST on grocery items starting July 1, increasing homeowner affordability supports, making public transit free for students up to Grade 12, and eliminating the $2 per day fee for families receiving the highest level of child-care subsidies. We are also addressing unfair practices by examining algorithmic pricing and removing restrictive grocery store covenants to increase competition and choice.

There is still more work to do, but I am proud of the progress we are making together. By supporting local partnerships and investing in community programs, we are building a stronger, more food-secure Notre Dame.

As your MLA for Notre Dame I am always happy to be of service. If you would like to get in touch, please email malaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca or call my office 204-799-0800.