The latest Hunger Count from Food Banks Canada paints a troubling picture: Food bank visits have surged dramatically over the past five years, underscoring a growing food insecurity crisis that requires urgent, sustainable action.
In 2019, food banks recorded 1,086,280 visits per month, rising 17% by 2021 to 1,272,580. By 2022, monthly visits climbed another 15% to 1,465,721, and in 2023 the situation grew even more dire, with visits skyrocketing by 32% to 1,935,911. As of 2024, monthly visits continue to rise, now averaging 2,059,636 — a 6.4% increase from last year. These figures illustrate a growing strain on resources and an urgent need to address food insecurity in Canada.
Yet, while demand rises, donations have failed to keep pace. Food Banks Canada reports that 76% of food banks noted reduced food donations having a considerable or moderate impact on operations over the last three to five years, up from 48% in 2021. Even more troubling, many former donors are now becoming clients, highlighting the widening reach of food insecurity. This decline in contributions has led 83% of food banks to purchase food to compensate — up from 55% in 2021. Such an added expense strains already limited budgets, underscoring the need for more sustainable solutions to meet demand nationwide.
The surge in food bank reliance can be attributed to the rising cost of living, impacting the working poor, seniors, single-person households, and international students — many of whom arrive in Canada with little financial safety net, pay significantly higher tuition, and face restrictions on full-time work. These students don’t arrive expecting food insecurity, but many find themselves seeking support out of desperation. They have chosen Canada as a place of hope and opportunity, and as a country, we hold some responsibility to ensure they are not left unsupported.
Some argue that food bank usage is increasing due to social normalization, but the data reveals a much more complex picture. Research from Food Banks Canada and other sources, including the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, highlights a substantial gap between the number of Canadians experiencing food insecurity and those accessing food banks. The decision to seek assistance is often delayed due to emotional or social barriers — many hesitate, feeling that others need help more urgently or experiencing embarrassment in asking. Food banks are acutely aware of these challenges and have worked to lower barriers through more inclusive intake processes, striving to make support accessible without stigma.
Is making food banks more accessible unintentionally creating a challenge for food banking itself? Many within the sector might see it that way. Yet, beyond increasing food bank support, Canada must explore new, innovative solutions to tackle food insecurity. Initiatives like “nutrition certificates” that can be redeemed at farmers’ markets or eliminating sales tax on nutritious foods could provide more discrete and dignified ways to assist those in need.
Beyond food banks, the country faces an even more pressing truth: Canada’s economy is weakening. Productivity per capita has stagnated, and the country’s wealth gap is growing. Food bank usage is a visible symptom, but the invisible number of those struggling in silence is likely even greater. Research consistently shows that many people who need help avoid seeking it, and this research should guide policy responses beyond short-term fixes. To ensure Canadians’ well-being, both immediate food insecurity and its root causes must be addressed.
Food banks are on the frontlines of Canada’s food insecurity crisis, but they cannot solve the issue alone. Canada must embrace a holistic approach to address not only the demand for food support but also the structural economic issues contributing to it.
Expanding food access is vital but ensuring that fewer Canadians need this support in the first place should be our ultimate goal. This approach will help Canada not only alleviate today’s crisis but also prevent future generations from facing the same hardship.
— Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast.