Demand for food aid could increase by nearly 10% in Quebec in 3 years: study

The number of requests for food aid could increase by at least 10 per cent over the next three years in the province, according to a study commissioned by Food Banks of Quebec (BAQ), which is now calling on the government for more funding.

BAQ responded to 2.93 million requests for food assistance per month in 2024 and expects to receive 3.22 million in 2027, according to the economic study. It’s over 320,000 more requests within three years — an increase of over 5 per cent in 2026 and over 4 per cent in 2027.

“With this study, we are able to anticipate what the coming years will look like for our network, which is already facing increased pressure to support people experiencing food insecurity in Quebec,” said Martin Munger, Executive Director of Food Banks of Quebec, in a press release.

“Although we are facing a sad and worrying trend, this allows us to have predictability on how the situation will evolve over the years and to prepare accordingly,” Munger said.

The study conducted by Aviseo also looks at the factors that influence the level of of demand for food aid in Quebec.

Those include: poverty and household economic dependence on government transfers, a less favourable job market for full-time work, the increase in the cost of housing and newcomers with precarious status. The study found these factors alone explain 71 per cent of the demand for food aid.

BAQ says the province subsidized them last year to the tune of $30 million, about 3 per cent of the total value of food distributed by the organization — and this year they say the aid was reduced to $10 million.

They’re now calling for recurring and predictable financial assistance for the coming years — requesting funding of $38 million in 2025-2026, $36 million in 2026-2027 and $34 million in 2027-2028.  

“As long as structural measures and actions that address the roots of poverty and social inequality are not implemented, we will be faced with this increase.

Given the results of this study, we hope to be able to establish a constant and predictable agreement with the Government of Quebec to ensure assistance for the most vulnerable,” Munger said.

Food Banks Quebec oversees nearly 1,300 food aid organizations across the province.