New figures that came out this week, suggest that well over 2 million Canadians are relying on food banks to keep themselves fed. Food Banks Canada says it recorded more than two million visits in March of this year, nearly double the monthly visits just five years ago, before the pandemic, and 6 percent above last year’s figure.
The added traffic at many food banks in Canada is pushing many of them to the brink, forcing them to curtail the amount of groceries they provide to each person coming through the door. The report is calling on governments to introduce measures that include rent assistance and even eliminating taxes on groceries. That was something that Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Canada’s food professor suggested months ago.
Andy Harrington, the Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is disturbed by the amount of food wasted that could be used to feed hungry Canadians. “If we saw the global food system, not just the Canadian one, as a whole system. We actually have enough food in the world, and enough ability, to actually end hunger around the world. We could do it quite easily but we don’t, we piece middle things. I think that’s what is happening with some of the way food is spoiling, increasing inflation, and all the other issues causing us to have this conversation.”
The study by Foodbanks Canada this week says rapid inflation, housing costs and insufficient social supports are driving new levels of poverty and food insecurity.
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