Canadians are using food banks in record numbers

Canadians are relying on food banks more than ever, according to Food Banks Canada’s 2026 HungerCount report, based on an annual survey of more than 5,500 food banks and community organizations across the country. Monthly visits reached 2.35 million in 2026, a 9 per cent increase from 2025 and a 117 per cent increase from 2019. Rising grocery and other essential costs are making it harder for households to make ends meet. A potential “super El Niño” has also raised concerns about further price increases, which could make the situation more challenging.

British Columbia and Alberta recorded some of the country’s highest food bank use. B.C. had 250,505 monthly visits in 2026, up 14 per cent from 2025. Alberta recorded 230,196 visits per month, a 9.3 per cent year-over-year increase. Children are also affected: Quebec recorded 274,193 monthly visits by children, the highest figure in the country, while Ontario reported 253,520.

“These numbers reflect years of mounting pressure on household finances. Rising housing costs, insufficient housing supply, food inflation, economic uncertainty, and inadequate income supports have steadily eroded the financial resilience of millions of people across Canada,” the report states.

Single-person households remain the most common household type accessing food banks. Women over 18 account for 53.4 per cent of food bank clients, while people from marginalized communities make up 49.9 per cent, according to the report. “Grossly inadequate provincial social assistance” remains the most common income source for food bank clients. About 41 per cent of Canadians rely on social assistance or disability-related support programs as their primary source of income.

Food Banks Canada is calling on governments to “make focused commitments to support the long-term economic well-being of people in Canada.” Its recommendations include doubling the Canada Workers Benefit, removing barriers to the Disability Tax Credit, expanding funding for affordable public housing, and strengthening grocery and essentials benefits in Northern communities to better reflect their higher cost of living. Groceries in the North already cost significantly more than anywhere else in Canada, the report notes, and the proposed changes could make a meaningful difference for residents there. The complete 2026 HungerCount report is available on Food Banks Canada’s website: https://foodbankscanada.ca/hunger-in-canada/hungercount/