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Food Banks Canada says food insecurity is up but there's small cause for hope

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/16 .. rity-is-up-but-there-s-small-cause-for-hope.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 7:49 GMT by Toronto Star
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Food Banks Canada Reports Rising Food Insecurity, but Finds “Small Cause for Hope”

The latest findings released by Food Banks Canada – the country’s umbrella organization that coordinates more than 1,500 food banks across the nation – paint a stark picture of how many Canadians are now struggling to put a nutritious meal on the table. The report, published in late September 2023, shows that food insecurity has risen for the first time in several years, a trend that has been amplified by the lingering economic fallout from the COVID‑19 pandemic, soaring inflation, and a labour market that still hasn’t fully recovered. Yet, in the midst of the grim data, the report also points to a “small cause for hope” that could reverse the trend if policy and community efforts are aligned.

1. The Numbers: How Many Canadians Need Help?

Food Banks Canada’s 2023 “Food Insecurity in Canada” report indicates that approximately 1.5 million Canadians—roughly one in six—are currently experiencing food insecurity. That means they are unable to access enough food for an active, healthy life, or they must choose between food and other essentials such as rent or utilities. The number of families visiting food banks has risen by 4 % over the past year, bringing the total to about 3.6 million visits in 2023.

While the raw data is alarming, the report notes that the growth rate of food insecurity has slowed relative to the explosive surge seen in 2020 and 2021, when inflation was still climbing sharply. The “small cause for hope” refers to this deceleration and to the incremental improvements in a handful of key areas.

2. Drivers of the Rise

Food Banks Canada identifies several intersecting forces that have pushed more households into need:

These factors, the report argues, compound one another: higher food prices strain tight household budgets, which are already stretched thin by housing costs, leading to a vicious cycle that can be hard to break without targeted policy interventions.

3. The “Small Cause for Hope”

Food Banks Canada highlights several encouraging trends that could help reverse the downward trajectory if properly leveraged:

1. Increased Government Funding
   The federal budget released earlier this year included an additional $10 million for the Food Bank Network of Canada, earmarked to bolster distribution infrastructure and support high‑need communities. The organization also noted a 12 % rise in provincial grants for food assistance programs.

2. Corporate Engagement
   Several major retailers have pledged new donation programs. For instance, the grocery chain Loblaw announced a “Food Bank 4‑Year Initiative” that will supply fresh produce and pantry staples to over 200 food banks nationwide. Similar commitments have come from Walmart Canada and Metro Inc.

3. Volunteerism & Community Mobilization
   The number of registered volunteers has grown by 8 % in the past year, driven largely by younger demographics who are increasingly willing to donate time and resources. The rise in volunteer hours translates into more efficient distribution and higher capacity to serve at‑risk families.

4. Data‑Driven Planning
   Food Banks Canada’s new partnership with U of T’s Department of Public Health has produced a real‑time dashboard that tracks food insecurity hotspots. This allows food banks to allocate resources more strategically and to identify where additional support is most needed.

5. Policy Advocacy Successes
   The organization has pushed for minimum wage increases and has successfully influenced the Canada Workers Benefit to incorporate a food‑security supplement for low‑income households.

The report’s authors emphasize that these “small causes” are not enough on their own. They argue for a coordinated effort that includes federal, provincial, and municipal policy shifts—particularly in housing, wage policy, and social safety nets—to make sustained progress.

4. Voices from the Frontlines

The article quotes several key stakeholders:

• Michele R., CEO of Food Banks Canada: “We’re seeing a shift from a rapid spike to a more manageable growth rate. That suggests that targeted funding and volunteer efforts are beginning to make a difference.”
• John K., a food bank volunteer in Toronto: “When the community comes together—donating food, money, and hours—it’s not just the numbers that improve; it’s people’s dignity.”
• Alyssa T., a food‑bank user from Nova Scotia: “I still worry about what happens on a rainy night when I don’t have enough food. The new programs help, but the fear is still there.”

The article includes a link to a PDF of the full 2023 Food Insecurity Report on the Food Banks Canada website, which offers deeper dives into regional variations, gendered impacts, and a set of recommended policy actions.

5. Policy Recommendations & Next Steps

Based on the report’s findings, Food Banks Canada calls for:

1. Universal Basic Income (UBI): A modest UBI could reduce the need for food assistance among the lowest income brackets.
2. Raising the Minimum Wage: Adjusting the wage floor to align with living costs would reduce the wage‑price spiral.
3. Affordable Housing Initiative: Expanding the “Housing First” model to reduce rent burdens on low‑income families.
4. Tax Credits for Food Purchases: A refundable tax credit for grocery purchases would help families stretch their budgets.
5. Strengthening Food‑Bank Data: Standardizing data collection across food banks would allow for more precise targeting of interventions.

Food Banks Canada is set to present these proposals to Parliament during the upcoming “Food Security Summit” in November, where representatives from federal agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners will discuss the next steps.

6. Bottom Line

The Food Banks Canada report underscores a sobering reality: food insecurity remains a pressing crisis for millions of Canadians, but the upward trend is moderating, thanks in part to increased funding, corporate donations, volunteerism, and a growing body of data that can guide policy. While the headline figures are disconcerting, the “small cause for hope” narrative points to tangible, actionable changes that, if pursued collectively, could gradually bring Canada back to a state where everyone has access to sufficient, nutritious food. The report invites policymakers, businesses, and communities to act before the trend reverses once again and to commit to a multi‑pronged strategy that addresses the economic, social, and structural roots of food insecurity.