A recent report from Food Banks Canada reveals that the number of monthly visits to food banks in Canada has surged to a record 2.3 million, representing a 9% increase from the previous year.
What happened
The report, titled HungerCount 2026, indicates that food bank usage in Canada has risen by 117% since 2019. Notably, nearly one-third of clients, approximately 776,000 visits, involved children. The share of food bank clients who reported employment as their primary source of income increased to nearly 18% this year, up from 12% in 2019.
According to the report, people living in market rent housing accounted for 71.8% of all food bank clients. These individuals were more likely to be newcomers, members of racialized communities, employed, and couples with children. Additionally, immigrants to Canada who had been in the country for 10 years or less made up nearly 31% of food bank clients, compared to 13% in 2019.
Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley stated that the report's findings demonstrate the consequences of millions of people being out of options. She emphasized that Canadians can no longer overcome financial setbacks, such as a family illness or increase in food prices, without struggling to make ends meet.
