Food bank usage in Canada has more than doubled since 2019, reflecting a growing affordability crisis across the country, according to recent data from Food Banks Canada. In March 2026, monthly visits to food banks reached 2.35 million, marking an increase of nearly 9 percent from the same month a year earlier and a 117 percent rise compared with 2019.

The surge in demand highlights widespread financial pressure affecting not only those traditionally reliant on social assistance but also a rising number of employed Canadians. Nearly 18 percent of individuals using food banks in 2026 reported employment as their primary income source, up from 12 percent in 2019, though slightly down from 19.4 percent in 2025. This shift signals that even people with jobs are struggling to cover basic needs amid rising living costs.

Richard Matern, research director at Food Banks Canada, described the situation as a loss of financial stability for many households. "People are progressively losing their financial cushion," he said, noting that the prolonged depth of need has persisted over the last several years. He emphasized that rising prices for food, housing, and transportation leave little room in household budgets to absorb unexpected costs before turning to food aid.

Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount survey, which gathers data from nearly 3,000 food banks and affiliates nationwide, tracks these trends using information collected each March. The report also identified a decline in the proportion of food bank clients relying primarily on social assistance over the same period.

Although grocery inflation slowed slightly in late summer—with prices rising 1.7 percent year-over-year in September compared to 2.8 percent in August—the overall cost of a typical grocery basket has increased by about 30 percent since 2019, according to data from the Royal Bank of Canada. Experts warn that this modest easing may be temporary.

Rising diesel fuel prices, up more than 70 percent from last year amid ongoing conflict in Iran, are expected to drive further increases in food import costs during the winter months, compounding challenges for food banks and consumers alike. The higher transportation costs strain food bank operational budgets while also adding to the financial pressure on households, Matern said.

Mike von Massow, a professor of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph, noted that the current harvest season is helping to stabilize prices for fruits and vegetables. However, he cautioned that costs are likely to rise during colder months when Canada relies more heavily on imported produce, a process made more expensive by soaring diesel prices.

Housing costs have also contributed significantly to increased financial strain. Since January 2019, rental expenses have climbed by 37 percent, according to Statistics Canada data. Food Banks Canada found that roughly 72 percent of food bank users live in market-rent housing, many spending upwards of 60 percent of their disposable income on shelter alone.

Matern highlighted the combined impact of rising food, transportation, and housing costs. For many low-income Canadians—including a significant number who maintain employment—incomes have not kept pace with these escalating expenses, eroding financial resilience across a broad segment of the population.