In what experts are calling a “national failure,” nearly one in five Canadian households experienced food insecurity in 2023, according to a devastating new report that exposes the growing hunger crisis across the country. The comprehensive study, released Tuesday by PROOF, a food insecurity research program, reveals that 6.9 million Canadians, including 1.8 million children, lived in homes where accessing adequate food was a daily struggle.
“What we’re witnessing isn’t simply an economic downturn—it’s a fundamental breakdown of our social safety net,” said Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, principal investigator at PROOF and professor at the University of Toronto. “The numbers tell a story of systemic failure that demands immediate policy intervention.”
The report draws on data from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey, painting a troubling picture of deteriorating conditions since the pandemic began. Food insecurity rates jumped from 15.9% in 2021 to an alarming 18.4% in 2023—the highest level recorded since national monitoring began in 2005.
Perhaps most concerning is the sharp rise in severe food insecurity, where households report going entire days without eating. This most extreme form increased by 22% between 2021 and 2023, affecting over 1.1 million Canadian households.
“When we talk about severe food insecurity, we’re describing families making impossible choices between paying rent or buying groceries,” explained Tim Li, PROOF researcher and co-author of the report. “These aren’t just statistics—they represent real suffering happening in communities across Canada.”
The geographic distribution of food insecurity reveals troubling regional disparities. Alberta saw the highest provincial rate at 20.8%, while the territories faced even more severe challenges—Nunavut reported a staggering 45.9% of households experiencing food insecurity. These numbers underscore the disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities, where colonial policies continue to exacerbate food access issues.
Financial vulnerability stands as the primary driver of this crisis. Households reliant on social assistance faced food insecurity rates exceeding 60%, while even those with employment weren’t immune—13.7% of households with employment income still struggled to put food on the table.
The financial implications extend far beyond individual suffering. Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal estimates that food-insecure adults cost the healthcare system approximately $3,930 more per person annually than their food-secure counterparts—translating to billions in additional healthcare costs.
Federal response to the crisis has been criticized as insufficient by advocacy groups. While the government points to programs like the Canada Child Benefit and one-time grocery rebates, experts argue these measures fail to address the structural problems driving food insecurity.
“Temporary relief measures are like putting a bandage on a broken leg,” said Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada. “What we need is comprehensive policy reform that addresses inadequate income supports, affordable housing shortages, and the rising cost of living.”
The report specifically calls for increasing social assistance rates, expanding eligibility for employment insurance, implementing living wage policies, and addressing the housing affordability crisis—all factors that directly impact household food security.
As political pressure mounts, some provinces have begun implementing targeted initiatives. British Columbia recently expanded school meal programs, while Quebec increased its minimum wage to $15.25 per hour. However, the report authors emphasize that coordinated national action is essential.
“We can’t solve this crisis through charitable food banks or piecemeal provincial measures,” Tarasuk stressed. “This requires federal leadership and a commitment to treating food security as a fundamental right, not a privilege.”
For millions of Canadians facing empty refrigerators and skipped meals, the solutions can’t come soon enough. As economic pressures continue to mount and essential costs rise, the question remains: will Canada finally treat hunger as the national emergency it has become, or will we continue to accept food insecurity as an inevitable feature of our society?
