Montrealers demand action on rising Canadian food insecurity
Posted April 20, 2025 3:53 pm.
Last Updated April 20, 2025 5:40 pm.
Food Banks Canada, along with provincial food bank associations across the country, is calling on federal party leaders to prioritize food insecurity in the upcoming election.
Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada, says the organization wants all political parties to commit to a plan that would reduce food insecurity by 50 per cent by the year 2030.
“What we are seeing is a crisis level of food insecurity and hunger across Canada,” said Beardsley. “Right now, we’ve seen a 90 per cent increase in food bank use since before the pandemic—that’s over two million visits to food banks every month.”
Beardsley points to several policy changes that could help ease the burden, including modernizing the Employment Insurance program, providing income support for low-income workers, and addressing the country’s growing need for affordable housing.
“Housing is the biggest expense for most people,” she said. “Seventy per cent of food bank clients pay market rent, and too many are forced to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table for their families.”
Recent data from Statistics Canada shows the highest jump in food inflation in more than four decades, a statistic that reinforces growing concerns.
“It’s now at 3.2 per cent, which is almost one per cent higher than the general inflation rate,” said Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. “I’m surprised that food security hasn’t been more central to election discussions, especially as food prices continue to climb. It’s a real concern for many families.”
Charlebois also notes that the cost of distributing and retailing food has risen due to tariffs and the need to source products globally, which adds additional pressure on Canadian grocery bills.
On the ground in Montreal, residents are echoing the same concerns.
“It has to be an election issue,” said Roxanne Roth, Montrealer. “Food prices are rising, and it’s getting harder to provide proper nutrition at home.”
“I think it’s really a rather sad thing that, when we talk about banks across this country, the vast majority of them are food banks,” added Penny Rankin, Montrealer.
“This issue is touching more and more people. It’s not being addressed federally at the level it needs to be,” said Zo, another Montreal resident.
Beardsley is urging Canadians to bring this issue to the forefront when speaking with candidates, attending local debates, and casting their votes.
“We know that Canadians care,” she said. “Let’s make this an election issue.”
