Canada is grappling with a deepening cost-of-living crisis, leaving many parents forced to make choices between their own nourishment and ensuring their children are fed.
A combination of inflation, rising grocery prices, and broader economic challenges has created an untenable situation for families across the country.
According to the Salvation Army’s recently released annual report on poverty in Canada, one in four parents has cut back on their own food intake to ensure their children have enough to eat over the past year. Among these parents:
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90 per cent reduced their grocery budgets to allocate funds for other financial obligations.
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86 per cent turned to less nutritious food options because they were more affordable.
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84 per cent reported skipping meals entirely.
John Murray, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army, painted a stark picture of the crisis, saying, “The reality is that many Canadians continue to have trouble meeting their daily basic needs for themselves and, much more importantly, for their children and their family members. And that, for us as an organisation, signals a deep, deep crisis for us in the country.”
This distressing trend is not limited to parents. Overall, 58 per cent of Canadians surveyed reported experiencing food-related challenges, with food insecurity disproportionately affecting families with children.
Canada food banks overwhelmed
Canada’s
food banks are struggling to meet an unprecedented level of demand. In March 2024 alone, food banks recorded over two million visits, a 6 per cent increase from the previous year and a staggering 90 per cent rise since 2019.
Alarmingly, 58 per cent of those accessing food banks in the past year were first-time users, up from 43 per cent the year prior.
The Salvation Army, one of Canada’s largest social service providers, distributed 3.2 million meals last year and supported over 2.1 million Canadians with essentials, including food and clothing. The organisation has also noted a significant shift in clientele since the pandemic, with more families and single parents seeking assistance.
Murray explained the ripple effects of poverty: “By the time people show up at The Salvation Army, they’ve often already had to make impossible choices to stretch their limited resources. Some are dealing with the very real possibility of being made homeless, which takes a major toll on their physical and mental health.”
Inflation eased but challenges linger
Canada’s inflation rate has eased significantly, falling to 1.6 per cent in September 2024, down from a peak of 8.1 per cent in June 2022. This has led to a modest decline in concerns over inflation and food affordability, with 36 per cent of Canadians listing inflation as their top challenge this year, compared to 47 per cent in 2023.
Similarly, concerns about food affordability dropped from 39 per cent in 2023 to 33 per cent in 2024.
However, for many families, the easing inflation has not translated into relief. A recent survey revealed that 44 per cent of Canadians are cutting back on groceries to pay other bills while 26 per cent are skipping or reducing meal portions, up from 21 per cent a year ago.
Politics around Canada’s cost-of-living crisis
The cost-of-living crisis has sparked heated political debate. The Conservative Party has criticised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government for the worsening food insecurity, stating, “It wasn’t like this before Justin Trudeau, and it won’t be like this after he’s gone.”
In response, Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, accused the Conservatives of exploiting the crisis for political gain, arguing that their proposed cuts to social programmes would worsen affordability challenges, reported CBC Canada.
NDP agriculture critic Alistair MacGregor also took aim at both major parties, blaming “corporate greed and years of Liberal and Conservative deference to grocery CEOs” for the current state of food insecurity.
To address these issues, the Trudeau government is considering
a multi-billion-dollar GST exemption on essential items such as clothing, diapers, and pre-made hot meals.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh claimed partial credit for this initiative, calling it a “winter tax holiday,” though he criticised it as insufficient. “As usual, the Liberals are letting people down with their choice to make this a short-term tax holiday,” Singh remarked.
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With inputs from agencies