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Canada is seeing record levels of food insecurity, with food bank visits doubling compared to six years ago. New national data shows nearly 2.2 million visits were recorded in a single month this year, the highest ever reported.
Food Banks Canada says the surge in demand is being driven by inflation, rising housing costs and wages that continue to fall behind. The organization warns food banks were never meant to replace the social safety net and many are now struggling to keep up.
The report shows one third of all visits are made by children under 18, translating to more than 700,000 monthly visits nationwide. Employment income is now the main source of money for nearly one in five food bank users, a sign that paycheques are no longer a guarantee of food security.
Provincial results show some of the steepest increases in Western Canada. Alberta food banks reported more than 210,000 visits in March, up 22 per cent from last year and 134 per cent since 2019. More than 75,000 of those visits were for children.
In British Columbia, food banks recorded more than 223,000 visits, although usage dipped slightly from 2024. Demand in Saskatchewan and Manitoba also climbed as soaring housing and grocery prices outpace wages across the Prairies.
The report notes 40 per cent of food bank clients rely on provincial social assistance as their primary income. Many food banks are now purchasing food to meet demand, with average annual spending more than doubling in three years.
Food Banks Canada is calling for federal action to cut food insecurity in half by 2030. The group says the solution requires stronger income supports, more affordable housing, changes to Employment Insurance and northern food policy, and better protection for low income workers.
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