Canadian food bank usage reaches record high of over two million visits

Food bank usage in Canada reached a record 2.35 million visits in March 2026, Juno News and Horizon Weekly both reported. According to Juno News, figures from the annual HungerCount report published by Food Banks Canada show that monthly visits increased by 8.7 per cent compared to the previous year. Demand has doubled since 2019, growing by 117 per cent over that period. [1][2]

Children accounted for 775,658 of the visits in March, representing approximately one-third of total food bank usage across the nation, Juno News reported. The news outlet stated that Canada's ongoing cost-of-living crisis has caused food bank usage to surge, forcing even employed families to seek assistance to secure basic meals. [1]

Canada was established in 1867 through Confederation as a federal dominion consisting of four provinces. Over time, the country expanded through the addition of further provinces and territories. [3]

Food Banks Canada chief executive Kirstin Beardsley said that millions of Canadian households can no longer absorb minor financial difficulties, Juno News reported. Beardsley stated that households are increasingly forced to choose between paying rent and buying groceries. [1]