Montreal coupon program looks to help fight against food insecurity

With the rising cost of groceries impacting Montrealers and Canadians across the country, many have resorted to alternative methods when buying local produce.

Carte Proximite, a unique food coupon program runs across 11 boroughs in Montréal and Laval, spanning through 59 markets and kiosks helping over 1,500 food-insecure families

“On this card, we put a monthly amount and that amount is determined by family size so if you live alone you receive a smaller amount $50 a month,” said Beccah Frasier, the executive co-director at Carrefour Solidaire. “If you are a family with a lot of children you receive a larger amount so up to $125 a month.”

Since its inception in 2020, the food stamps project has aimed at providing shoppers with a more dignified experience that reinforces people to have autonomy to choose what they need for their household while supporting local producing regions around the city.

Just steps outside of Frontenac Metro station, Marché solidaire Frontenac is just one of many locations around the city as Carte Proximite continues to grow.

According to the City of Montreal, one in ten people do not have the financial needs to access fresh food and eat healthfully, while one in four are living in food insecurity.

“Food is more than just sustenance, food is community, and food is joy”

“The idea is rather than having to reduce the prices for folks that are having trouble affording stuff you’re giving them a greater purchasing power so they’re actually buying food at the same prices as everybody else you’re just putting more money in their pocket on this card,” explained Frasier.

The project was inspired by a report in 2019, that assessed the possibility of having a food coupon project in Montreal.

Structured through the Carrefour solidaire Centre communautaire d’alimentation, the project has funding from the federal government which is allocated for the next three and a half years with hopes of expansion.

Anne Marie Aubert, the coordinator at the Conseil du Système alimentaire montréalais, said as food insecurity is primarily a problem associated with poverty, most people struggle with accessing good quality food as prices skyrocket, making it inaccessible for some.

“Besides my professional role I live in this neighborhood so I come to this market all the time it’s so easily accessible because it’s right beside the metro so that’s a great attraction and you see people coming you see people buying some of the food,” said Aubert.

Frasier and Aubert emphasized the gradual need for fresh produce from producers around the city, as one of the highest demands are good sources of protein, something Frasier says is often too expensive for some.

“I remember one woman with children she was able to bring her children to the market and they bought blueberries,” she recalled. “[She said] My children ate the entire thing of blueberries before we left the market and that’s not something I would have been able to offer my children had it not been for this card,” Frasier said.