Canadians from coast to coast to coast are continuing to face food insecurity as income fails to keep pace with food price increases and advocates say the country is “failing” to meet some people’s human right to food.
Data from Statistics Canada showed about one in four Canadians was living in a food-insecure household last year.
The numbers were released the same month data showed food prices had increased 3.5 per cent year-over-year.
“It’s horrible,” said Marissa Alexander, executive director of Food Secure Canada. “The main issue is that folks do not have enough income to support their lifestyle because we are not getting paid fair wages or appropriate wages, the cost of housing has gone up, the cost of groceries have gone up.”
Most provinces saw a range of 23 to 28 per cent of people living in food-insecure households, with only Quebec falling outside this range at 18 per cent. In the territories, the numbers ranged 15 to 16 per cent, except for Nunavut which sees 56 per cent of residents living in food insecure homes.
In some places like Peterborough, Ont., it’s meant an increase for food banks and other organizations.
“This time of year, we have to buckle down and really stretch our dollars because the donations do go down,” said Ashley Anderson, executive director of Kawartha Lakes Food Source.
“A lot of talk is, we’re hearing people with full-time jobs, they have kids and the gas prices, those are a few conversations we have heard in the waiting room.”
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The food bank has seen more than 1,000 visits every month.
Lakelands Public Health, which includes Peterborough, recently released data showing 22.3 per cent of households were food insecure from 2022 to 2024. This data included families on minimum wage, people under Ontario Works assistance or a single person on the Ontario Disability Support Program.
The cost of rent and food alone can leave some people with little to no extra money for other basics. A family of four on minimum wage in a three-bedroom apartment using 71 per cent of their income could still be left with $1,432, but that same type of family on Ontario Works could end up with negative $666 after using about 120 per cent of their income.
The numbers are different though depending where you live. In Windsor, Ont., a family of four making minimum wage could walk away from paying rent and food with $2,644 remaining for everything else, but a family on Ontario Works could end up with $545, according to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Alexander said those numbers could make it appear the family on minimum wage is in a better spot financially, but everyone is struggling.
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“There used to be some problematic beliefs that it was just certain people could be food insecure, and it was due to their own personal failings or challenges,” she said. “We’ve been very clearly advocating that that is not the case. It’s not an individual failing, it’s a systemic failing.”
When people fall into food insecurity, it’s not only about feeding yourself but staying healthy, said Lauren Kennedy, registered dietician with Lakelands Public Health.
“We know that as household food insecurity rates go up, as the severity of household food insecurity goes up, so do health-care expenses,” Kennedy said. “When folks are facing household insecurity, it’s hard to eat enough, let alone healthy food.”
This can make it even more difficult for people with chronic diseases to ensure they have healthy food that could help them manage their health issues, while children in food insecure households are more likely to develop depression or have hyperactivity and inattention issues.
Food banks continue to make an effort to help Canadians, but with a report by Food Banks Canada showing nearly 2.2 million visits in a single month in 2025, advocates say governments can do more.
“When it comes to household food insecurity, we want to try to fix it with providing emergency food,” said Kennedy. “At the same time, we need to be careful that we don’t forget that we need to address the root causes of household food insecurity. It’s an income problem that requires income solutions.”
A number of options could help tackle the issue, Alexander said, whether it’s more benefits like the recent Groceries and Essentials Benefit rolled out earlier this spring, ensuring the Canada Child Benefit puts money directly “into the hands of those that need it,” or changing policies such as having a basic income “of some form.”
“What we’re noting is we know that food is a human right, and right now in Canada, we are failing to meet that human right,” she said.
—with files from Global News’ Madeleine McColl
I am facing food insecurity due to being a senior. And here in Vancouver the rents are too high and I fear I could end up living on the steps of City Hall. That is where I am going if it happens. I have been actively looking for lower cost housing and no one wants to rent to a senior, prejudice yes. They have not built senior housing in 30 years in my neighbourhood. It is frightening.
Corporate companies responsible for minimum wage jobs don’t want to pay their employees even one wage above minimum wage. The moment they have to, they try to push out those employees out the door by firing them or pressuring them to quit. The same companies hire international workers for the same jobs for lower than minimum wage. (no fault of those worker’s of course) These companies do not care about those on their payroll, and never will!
The cost of living has absolutely sky rocketed under the liberals.
The average household debt is nearly $100,000 compared to only $35,000 when the Conservatives were in power.
But hey its Trump, pollievre, Iran, covid, EVERYTHING but the liberals fault 🤡
I have no idea what you are talking about or why you are calling boomers lazy bums.
Hey boomers, if everyone’s circumstances are in their own control, why are you guys not all billionaires with private jets??? Shame on you, you shouldve worked harder lazy bums
People struggle while corporations have record profits. People struggle, while some folks live lavish life-styles. We need a proper tax system, that taxes wealth not work. End the billionaire class, their wealth is extracted from the rest of society. You do not earn a billion dollars. You take it from others.
The system is doing exactly what is designed to do. This situation is manufactured by taxation policies, and policies that entrenched wealth in the hands of the few.
Tax billionaires out of existence.
The solutuon is not more social programs. The solution is to abolish income tax. That leaves more money in Canadian’s pockets and less for corrput politicians to pad their salaries with. Being elected at any level of government should not equal a free ride on the backs of hard working citizens. Government is meant to represent the people, not rule over them. Making these appointments consist of volunteering on a part-time basis would eliminate all greed and ambition from the system. Only those who truly care about making a difference would get involved. If every Canadian stood together and refused to fund this corrupt system it would crumble.
Keep those elbow up idiots! 😂
Our food is poisoned with glyphosate anyway. It is banned in almost every country in the world but Canada and USA. Shows how much they really care.
Its absolutely laughable that this guy is on here telling people they need to grow their own food when LOBLAWS HAS BEEN RAKING IN RECORD PROFITS. We’re being ripped off by corporate grovery giants. They are getting rich off people starving, full stop.
Governments need to stop increasing their pay and start investing taxpayer money back into the taxpayer. Its utterly corrupt that people can’t eat or house themselves while politicians wages are well into the top 1% of earners and continuing to rise every year while people are suffering. Its so messed up
Why does this article avoid exploring what has driven the increased cost of food staples so rapidly? Instead of suggesting more social handouts as the solution, perhaps a look at the underlying cause of mismanagement would reveal the truth.
Canadians have lost the ability to be responsible for themselves
Isn’t Quebec fortunate to receive $billions in transfer payments from Alberta!
DON’T VOTE LIBERAL. IT IS DOOM FOR US. BRAINWASHING KIDS FOR LGBTQ. LOST OUR MILITARY PROTECTION. NOT ABOUT TARRIFFS. LAUGHABLE. YOU CARE ABOUT THE KIDS? GET THESE LUNATICS OUT.
Okay Bwana
Outside of third world heckholes…is that number that cant afford food ever 30%?
Gah why are people trying to rationize this. Canada is a rapidly devolving garbage dump despite all the resources and education.
Nahhhh. Our prime minister said himself ” things have never been more affordable” maybe some people just don’t have their elbows far enough up?
I hope everyone is aware that yesterday in the house of commons the conservatives proposed a motion to protect the private property rights of Canadians. Carney told ALL of his Liberal MO’s to vote against it. The motion was defeated. So much for Carney saying 2 weeks ago that he considers Canadian property rights to be fundamental. The guy is a fake and it shows.
@CJ You are delusional and a typical example of an Elbozo.
We hear this! My husband went into stage 3 heart failure 2 years ago. He was self employed, any savings went to paying off bills for the business. We now get a total of $1300 per month on disability. I’m not allowed to make any money to speak of. Pay for a mortgage, his meds and insurance and there us nothing left….no Christmas, no garden, no clothes, no food…nothing.
But heaven forbid we not have an email for all the specialists , labs and government correspondence (that requires a computer or smart phone).
If this were another country, people here would up in arms over this kind of poverty.
There will always be a percentage of any society not being able to meet their financial obligations for whatever reason…
Is this the “even more sacrifices” carney was telling young Canadians to buckle up for, or is this the “Canadas economy has never been stronger” quote rebounding.
Either way, thanks liberals for ruining the quality of life in Canada. 10 years of corrupt policies and political embezzling has left us exactly here. Libs have no one to blame but themselves
How does this article not include a single quote from a government source addressing this disaster. Shameful.
When JBS was allowed to setup shop in Canada the writing was on the wall for the price of beef. They are the most corrupt organization in the meat processing business. There are documentaries on how they operate. They claim reduced cattle herds have driven prices up which is nonsense. They control the intake of cattle into their operations. Yet our Governments let them do what they are doing. Shame.
humans have no rights
Elbows Deep assholes
I empathize with people who are struggling, but other than themselves, who do people have to blame for not being able to afford better food? If they didn’t do any job market research, never earned a masters degree and didn’t procure a good job, that failing is theirs alone. Anyone who has been in the water with someone that never learned to swim, knows they will cling and pull them under. This is what the working class have done to Canada, and instead of accounting for their own inactions they blame the liberals. The working class has been overpaid for low-skill jobs and these price increases have cumulated as the result.
Crazy how the Conservatives in this comment section think the problem is the Liberal government, conveniently (and willingly) falling for the false narrative that little Timbit Trump spouts.
Fun Fact: Pierre Pollievre (And Conservatives as a whole) targets you and tells you to blame the Liberals because you’re ignorant and uneducated, thus forcing you to attack “The Left” instead of seeing that the problem lies solely with billionaire doners like Galen Weston owning every part of the food industry.
The more you attack your fellow countrymen, the more the Cons will gouge you of everything you own.
Only solution, keep voting liberal. You all love to punish yourselves
Carney said Canadians had never had it so good !!! Huge historic increases in Canadians having to access food banks, food prices skyrocketing, rents out of control, homelessness has never been so rampant, people losing hope and becoming desperate. ALL of this is as a result of 11 years of failed Liberal policies, huge deficit spending, doubling of our national debt, servicing the national debt to the tune of $59 BILLION this year alone. That is not even mentioning the mass migration of people who take and rarely give back. I’m not talking about vetted immigrants who want to become contributors to Canada, but those who come here only to use, take, and complain, we all know who they are. Carney and the Liberals are doing a good job of destroying Canada and Canadian society.
Elbows up losers . Reap what you’ve sewn with excess immigration, taxes, lack of infrastructure and energy projects . Libs for the win
Gee, it’s almost as if bringing in millions of unwashed subhumans from the third world actually strained the native Anglo-French and native populations past the brink of sustainability! Who could’ve seen this coming??? Oh right, the gov’t blacklisted them from common society when they spoke out.
F.U canadaaa, your third world status
Canada would prefer to go “Elbows Up” and stick it to Trump, meanwhile the Libs have done nothing for important domestic issues. Where is all the results to Carneys huge promises from the last election? Nothing has been realized.
@Sean. Enlighten us then with your math.
Five comments and five comments deleted. The comments common theme is the Liberals over the last almost 12 years have decimated Canada. PERIOD! Everything from loss of corporate business, manufacturing of most everything and nothing but low paying jobs at all the coffee shops run by TFWS!
Trying to get educated in this country is a joke! They screw the people there too by making good education and training only for the rich. Just like good food, only for the rich. healthcare. Only for the rich.
The problem in Canada is politicians. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES GETTING RICH!! Each and every politician is a f8cking millionaire or close too it! Meanwhile, 3/4s of Canadians are BROKE!! You tell me what the problem is!
Cue the censor bot!
John Shultz can’t do math.
But why? My elbows are up
All you whiners need to make a choice. Either keep quiet, or actively do something about it, but complaining online does nothing. Take back you nation by any means necessary or accept your fate. There is no middle ground.
Trudeau lied and said the consumer carbon tax didn’t cause inflation, it didn’t. When Carney put the tax to zero, immediately the next full month after inflation dropped by 1.25%-1.00%. Is lus the so called rebate didn’t give you more back then what you paid in taxes.
Carney eats Caviar, Beef Wellington , and drinks expensive wine while food bank usage in Canada explodes. Shameful behaviour
Welcome to heaven of law’s and corruption!
And 60% of Albertans want to stay in this Canadian utopia? 😂😂🤪
This is what you get when Governments keep making every expensive and tax thing mercilessly. If you jack up input costs, the output costs will be higher. 40% of fuel costs is taxes of some kind.
Why don’t those who have the authority / power and the money / resources enough to buy and make food to share – instead use their authority and resources to ensure adequate money is provided in the first place , so there is no need fir food line ups and make it posdible for these people to have autonumy – NOT standing in food handout lines? Think about the golden rule. Those decision makers in authority of resources must give adequate amounts of money to live in the first place- that means enough to pay rent AND buy food ! That is the answer. Decision makers MUST obey the golden rule. First. In every decision that involves human lives.
The small and medium farmers are being driven out of the agricultural market by the government and large corporations. As an example, Dairy Supply Management has created a situation where a quota for one milking cow costs around $40,000. $4 million dollars for a herd of 100 cows. A small family farm cannot afford that. That leaves the big corporate farms to charge whatever they want.
Too many people wanting to few resources. To much tax and regulations that keep prices high. Higher minimum wages have become a tax for everyone. The regulations and impedance farmers face from liberals is a huge driver of high food cost. Bringing in too many immigrants and giving them our money for years has increased prices and fewer resources at food banks etc.
The loser who posted anonymously at 1:47am needs to learn class consciousness and open their eyes… Hate to break it to ya bub, corpos will raise prices regardless if they pay more for min wage or not lmao
The Elbowzo/ Epstein class need to feel the pain from Carney/Epstein policy.
Hey carney and liberals need their champagne and caviar.. if you voted for them.. time to pay!
I am in the hospital now partially due to the fact I cannot afford to eat healthy and the food bank no longer helps with crohns disese or diabetic needs which I have both.
ASK CARNEY IF HE GIVES a F/ K ???
High food prices are fundamentally driven by expenses, and the largest expenses are overpaid food processing workers and grocery clerks. Each time minimum wage increases it drives the costs higher. Minimum wage needs to be frozen and cease future inflationary increases for the betterment of the country, instead of constantly pandering to the working class. The liberal government needs to start doing what was promised five years ago and begin serving the middle class who pay all the taxes in this country.
There is no way a family of 4 can live on minimum wage. Im single and cannot take care of myself on $16.85/hr. Rent is 2000, insurance, utilities, maybe internet those are basics…. not happening. Do the calculation!
I don’t believe farmers across Canada do not produce enough food to feed all Canadians at reasonable prices.
The problem is opening our door to sell for profit, ending up with huge contracts overseas & USA (colateral). Then applying a loss to our own Nation ( deficits) then raising the cost of living 1% more every time our neighbour(USA) votes in stupid greedy con artists talkers like Trump.
That’s piss poor banking
If you can’t afford it you can always seek out MAID. The Liberals make it easy if you can’t hack it in this left wing Utopia. I love my government.
Canada is a complete sh* t hole. High cost of living, some of the highest taxes on the planet, high housing costs, no culture, no identity, 1/3 of the population is interested in leaving, boring, poor healthcare with ER’s always closing. What a total f *ucking 3rd world country.
I blame the corporations benefitting from this sabotage, their lobbying and political donations are quietly and continually altering consensus…and they control the media, falsify reporting, and manipulation the conversation to have us believe it’s just business as usual…..this is not ethical, acceptable or successful, except for widening the disparity between the people and the problem
Thanks to the LPC and the idiots who think they’re doing a good job.
How about go get a part time job like I did in the 70’s – it’s to pay the rent and feed the family
Hand.to mouth Ontario and Quebec folks decided to vote Liberal again. How is Elbows Up now?
elbows up, keep voting these dirtbag liberals in and this is what you get, higher costs for everything
Those who voted against a US president instead of voting for a Canadian politician are the ones who are to blame for giving the Liberals yet another chance to destroy Canada. Their TDS is so strong that it can be considered a mental illness, which has blinded them to the damage done by Trudeau with Carney as his financial advisor and they have been easily taken in by Carney as a result. WAKE UP to reality before it is too late.
Carney said Canadians had never had it so good !!! Huge historic increases in Canadians having to access food banks, food prices skyrocketing, rents out of control, homelessness has never been so rampant, people losing hope and becoming desperate. ALL of this is as a result of 11 years of failed Liberal policies, huge deficit spending, doubling of our national debt, servicing the national debt to the tune of $59 BILLION this year alone. Carney and the Liberals are doing a good job of destroying Canada and Canadian society.
Welcome to the land of excessive taxation and no representation
Well….as long as people’s equalities(pronouns, genders, etc) are first and foremost, nothing else should matter
Keeping voting Liberal if you don’t want anything to change.
Trudeau and Champagne promised lower grocery prices in 2023. Never realized
From Socks to Elbows, this country is an absolute disaster
Carney said to judge him by our grocery prices in a year.
Well Elbow Boy,you have failed miserably.
But it’s no surprise considering you are the Leader of the dysfunctional Liberal Party
Thanks liberal voter.
Grocers run on razor thin margins, less than 5%. Carney and his cronies need to held accountable.
@ Andy. How much did Canadas population grow last years. More food for new people
Elbows Up Canadians prefer to blame Trump instead of the Liberal Govt since 2015.
And the progressive liberal government is doing…… what?
I hear a lot of money going to other countries, like didn’t Ukraine get 25 billion ish in total from Canada? And we are sending them more.
Think about that
When Loblaws are posting Revenue earnings of 14 Billion, up 4%, its a hard pill to jamb down our throats and say ‘Income’ is the issue. Maybe examining the Food and Utility sectors profits before falling back on the good old, “its wages’ excuse. ( Enbridge gas are up nearly 8% over Q1 last year )
Good old shareholder greed is the real issue.
For all the Carney L i b t a r d s out there is this what you voted for ??? Over two million Canadians using food banks seriously do you think Carney and his family are hurting like the rest of us ? Who in their right mind would vote for a person that wouldn’t disclose his personal wealth and hides it in blind trusts. “ELBOWS UP “