Greg Cowie, who relies on disability support, has had to get creative with his budget to make ends meet. With only $300 left after paying rent, he stretches his grocery budget by buying a small roast and slicing it into thin steaks to last for weeks, along with opting for cheaper meal options like hot dogs, canned ravioli, or rice. Sharing an apartment with a roommate helps cut down on household expenses.
Cowie expressed his struggles while shopping at a Costco in London, Ontario, mentioning that it costs around $150 per week for a comfortable meal, making the overall cost of living challenging and uncomfortable.
Food Banks Canada reported a concerning trend happening nationwide, indicating a 40% increase in food insecurity over the past two years, affecting more than a quarter of all Canadians. The organization gave Canada a grade of D in its annual report card.
In Ontario, the demand for food banks has surged beyond capacity, with organizations like Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank facing overwhelming requests for assistance. The CEO, Neil Hetherington, emphasized the urgency of the crisis, highlighting the substantial increase in meals provided from 10 million to 50 million within four years.
Although recent federal initiatives such as dental care and a $13 billion commitment to housing show early signs of reducing food insecurity, Hetherington stressed the need for more time to observe their widespread effects. He called for enhancements to the disability benefit, which currently stands at $200 per month, leaving individuals in deep poverty.
Unemployment rates have risen by 34% over two years, particularly impacting youth, according to Food Banks Canada. Hetherington urged the government to prioritize support for young people, emphasizing the importance of reforms to Employment Insurance and ensuring equal opportunities for all Canadians to thrive in the community.
Various cities in Ontario, including Orillia, have declared food insecurity emergencies as local food banks struggle to keep up with the escalating demand. This trend is consistent across the province, underscoring the severity of the food insecurity crisis.
The latest report from Food Banks Canada, HungerCount, revealed record-high usage of food banks in 2024, with nearly two million Canadians seeking assistance in a single month, marking a 30% increase from the previous year. Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada, emphasized the dire circumstances faced by low-income families, with over a quarter of the Canadian population experiencing food insecurity.
Beardsley attributed the escalating issue to decades of neglect in the social safety net, coupled with soaring housing and food costs. She expressed optimism about policy advancements like school food programs and pharmacare, emphasizing the need to sustain progress to alleviate food insecurity in the future.
Despite some positive developments, Valerie Tarasuk, a food insecurity expert, cautioned that the situation is deteriorating due to fundamental income challenges that must be addressed. She highlighted the urgency for government intervention to tackle the unsustainable growth in food bank usage.
Food Banks Canada proposed legislative measures such as automating tax filing, enhancing employment insurance, improving the Canada Child Benefit, and introducing the Groceries and Essentials Benefit through the GST credit system to alleviate food insecurity. Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families, acknowledged the need for action and highlighted the importance of initiatives like the National School Food Program, aimed at providing meals to students in need across the country.
