Food and Water Crisis Grips Canada, Food Bank Demand Surges in Toronto

GG News Bureau
Ottawa, 16th Nov. A growing food and water crisis is causing concern across Canada, with food banks witnessing an unprecedented surge in demand. A new report highlights the alarming rise in the number of people relying on food banks in Toronto, with more than 10% of the city’s population now depending on them for basic sustenance. This marks a 36% increase compared to the previous year.

According to the annual report ‘Who’s Hungry’ by Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank, 3.5 million people turned to food banks in the past year, an increase of 1 million from the previous year. From April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, food banks in Toronto saw a record number of 3.5 million visitors—more than the city’s entire population, which is approximately 2.8 million according to the latest census data.

Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, expressed concern, stating, “It’s incomprehensible that the number of clients visiting food banks now exceeds the entire population of Toronto. More than one in ten residents of Toronto are now dependent on food banks. The rising number of first-time visitors is also becoming a challenge for food banks.”

Hetherington added that many individuals who had never considered using food banks are now turning to them due to an overwhelming lack of options to escape poverty. Approximately 25% of households in Toronto face food insecurity, meaning one in four people struggles to access sufficient food.

The report also revealed that newcomers to Canada are increasingly relying on food banks. Around 32% of food bank clients have been in the country for 10 years or less, with most of them arriving in the past two years. The rising costs of housing and inflation have been attributed as key factors behind the increased demand for food assistance.

Christine Beard, CEO of Food Banks Canada, attributed the crisis to a lack of investment in public services, infrastructure, and housing. She stated, “The fact that people are turning to food banks is a policy failure. We need to take all necessary steps to eliminate poverty and food insecurity.”

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