CHARLOTTETOWN: The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is grappling with a severe food insecurity crisis as student visits to the campus food bank have dramatically increased. Student leaders report that visits surged by nearly 60%, climbing from 2,900 in 2022 to 4,600 in 2024.
This sharp rise indicates that a growing number of students are relying on free groceries to manage their budgets amid escalating costs. UPEI Student Union President, Luciana Quiroa, stated that students are being forced to skip meals to cover essential expenses like rent, tuition fees, and textbooks.
In response, student leaders are calling for broader financial assistance beyond the emergency food bank. They are demanding funding for expanded programs, such as free daily meals on campus, to provide more consistent support.
Jennifer Taylor, a UPEI professor and researcher, emphasized that dismissing the problem as temporary is a mistake. She argues that the core challenge lies in wages failing to keep pace with inflation. Taylor noted that international students are disproportionately affected compared to their peers.
Pointing to the success of poverty reduction plans in Newfoundland and Labrador—which led to a reduction in food insecurity—Taylor advocates for putting more money directly into the hands of the public to solve the crisis. The Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey revealed the stark reality that one in five students across Canada faces food insecurity.
