A food desert was allowed to form, leaving 1000's without access to a human right.

Food Desert: An area where access to affordable and healthy food is limited or non-existent. This is due to a lack of grocery stores in the area. Instead, residents only have access to convenience stores and fast food, which offer less nutrition for more money

A food desert is a symptom of apathy from those with the power to care.

A food desert affecting thousands has formed in Scarborough. Two longstanding independent grocery stories providing affordable food have now shut down. TasteCo and Sunvalley in Southwest Scarborough's closure has left some residents 2 to 3 bus rides or over an hour's walk away from fresh groceries.

So, how is this a symptom of apathy? And why say that the food desert was "allowed to form?" Let's look at how each store closed and what should've been done to prevent the closure.

TasteCo kept their prices low and, as such, attracted many customers, but not enough to keep their doors open. After missing two months' rent, they are being made to close by the landlord. So what could've been done? Bailouts. The government already provides millions, if not billions, of dollars in bailouts to private airlines when air travel decreases, such as in COVID-19. Why can we bail out companies worth 100's millions but not an independent store keeping residents fed? Not to mention that the justification of airline bailouts include saving job and helping remote communities. A bailout to help TasteCo afford rent would save jobs and help a community, this time not with travel but with food security.

Secondly, development. Sunvalley is closing its doors due to a development requiring its demolition. Grocery stores sit on large, mostly empty lots, and the densification of these lots allows housing stock to be created and more commercial spaces. However, this comes at the cost of the existing business. Suppose a lifeline business for a community, like an affordable grocery store, has to close for development. In that case, the developer should provide an adequate nearby replacement space for them to move in immediately and potentially a replacement in the new development.

Food deserts are never an accident. They are preventable and exist only because of a lack of priority regarding ensuring working-class racialized communities are fed.

-J.A. Caza