Lynn McIntyre, Krista Rondeau Dept of Community Health Sciences, U of Calgary, Cathy Mah, CAMH and...
-
Upload
ethelbert-ralph-wilkins -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
2
Transcript of Lynn McIntyre, Krista Rondeau Dept of Community Health Sciences, U of Calgary, Cathy Mah, CAMH and...
1
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
3
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.
4
Problems Policies Politics
WindowsEntrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs
Framing or problem definition is a key element in policy change
5
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?
6
Using frame-critical analysis, to examine how household food insecurity is framed as a policy problem in policy debates in Canada.
Objective
7
• 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
8
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)
9
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?
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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.
14
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
16
Thank you