P.E.I. still worst province for children not getting enough healthy food

The percentage ofIsland children not getting a healthy diet is still the worst in the country, the latest research shows.

The PROOF study released to CBC News Tuesday does show, however, the percentage of Island homes not able to afford a healthy diet in 2014 dropped 1.6 per cent, down to15.1 per cent of households or 8,700 homes.This is the first time P.E.I. has seen a decline in food insecurity since tracking started in 2005.

But principalinvestigatorValerie Tarasuk said it's too early to celebrate.

"It's a small decrease. I wouldn'tbreak out the champagne yet,"said Tarasuk, a professor of nutritional sciences at the Universityof Toronto. "It's not big enough yet for us to be able to declare that there's really been a downward trend."

What's most concerning to Tarasukis there has been no change in the percentage of Island childrenliving in homes that are struggling to buy enough healthy food. That number still sits at 22 per cent, the same as when it was last tracked in 2012.

For me, the big concern here is while we've seen a small drop in the province overall, we've still got this very, very high level of children.- Valerie Tarasuk

"For me, the big concern here is while we've seen a small drop in the province overall, we've still got this very, very high level of children," she said.

Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotiaarethe provinces with the worst record in the country when it comes to children facing food insecurity in 2014, followed by New Brunswick at 21 per cent.

"It's more than one in five [children] in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. That's a very, very high number and it really hasn't budged."

Tarasukis anxious to see the details of the new child tax benefit promised by the Trudeau government, which Ottawa hassaid will lift300,000 children out of poverty.

"Will that be enough to shift the 22 per cent? It should be, and if it isn't I would say they need to go back to the drawing board," said Tarasuk.

"The children living in families with those really low incomes are extremely high risk and so what needs to happen with those benefits, and with all benefits, is that we have to give more to those people at the very bottom."

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