TORONTO – Canadians continue to face severe financial distress due to the skyrocketing cost of living, with food bank reliance reaching record levels across the country. According to Food Banks Canada’s annual HungerCount report, monthly food bank visits have surged by nearly nine per cent compared to the previous year.
In 2026, monthly visits to food banks climbed to 2.35 million, representing a staggering 117 per cent increase compared to 2019 figures. Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley described the data as a stark portrayal of millions of people running out of options. She noted that while Canadians could previously absorb minor financial setbacks, the current reality forces many into impossible daily choices between paying rent or buying groceries.
Food bank visits rose across nearly every province and territory, with the exception of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. The highest numbers were recorded in Canada’s most populous provinces: Ontario logged 846,724 visits (an 11 per cent increase), Quebec recorded 785,889 visits (up 5 per cent), and British Columbia saw 250,505 visits (a 14 per cent increase). Significant surges were also reported in northern regions, with visits rising 24 per cent in Yukon and 29 per cent across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
The findings are compiled from data gathered across more than 5,500 food banks and community organizations nationwide. Since 2021, the cost of essentials has escalated rapidly—food prices have climbed nearly 30 per cent, housing costs are up 28 per cent, and transportation expenses have increased by almost 24 per cent. This inflationary pressure has increasingly pushed employed individuals toward food assistance; nearly one in five food bank clients (20 per cent) is currently employed, compared to one in ten in 2019.
Calling for urgent governmental intervention, Food Banks Canada outlined key policy recommendations to mitigate the crisis. These include reforming Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility to cover non-traditional and gig workers, doubling the Canada Workers Benefit, enhancing the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), reviewing federal social assistance programs, and investing heavily in critical infrastructure, particularly affordable housing.
