Canadian Food Banks Report Record Demand Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis
Food Banks Canada and Food Banks of Quebec report record-high usage as inflation and housing costs drive millions of Canadians toward food assistance.
Food bank usage has reached record levels across Canada, driven by a cost-of-living crisis that has seen food prices rise 30 percent since 2021. Food Banks Canada reported 2,355,000 visits in March 2026, an 8.7 percent increase over the previous year's record, while nearly 10 million Canadians now experience food insecurity. In Quebec, the network's 1,400 organizations fulfill 3.27 million monthly requests, with children accounting for roughly one-third of recipients in both national and regional data.
Supply chains are struggling to keep pace with demand. Nationally, one in five food banks report running out of food before meeting client needs. In Quebec, 70 percent of organizations reported food shortages over the last year, and nearly 14 percent were forced to turn people away. Officials note that employment no longer guarantees food security, as nearly a quarter of assisted households in Quebec derive most of their income from jobs.
Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley called the federal Canada Groceries and Essential Benefit a positive investment but argued it is insufficient. The organization is calling for a $500 million investment in infrastructure and a doubling of the Canada Workers Benefit. Natalie Spooner, CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank, warned of exhaustion within the support network as the severity of food insecurity becomes more dire.
