Alberta Food bank demand nearly doubles over past 5 years: report

Canada’s reliance connected nutrient banks has soared to a grim caller milestone and is “spiralling retired of control,” according to a caller study from Food Banks Canada.

The enactment says it recorded much than 2 cardinal visits successful March 2024, representing a 90 per cent summation successful monthly visits from March 2019, and six per cent supra past year’s record-breaking figure.

The latest yearly survey suggests that nutrient slope usage successful Alberta did not alteration overmuch twelvemonth implicit year, however, implicit the past 5 years the state has seen 1 of the highest increases successful nutrient slope usage successful Canada, up by 92.4 per cent.

Only Ontario (116. 8 per cent) and Quebec (109 per cent) person seen bigger increases.

The study says determination were 172,832 visits to the 128 nutrient banks successful Alberta successful March 2024 and much than 35 per cent of those users were nether 18 years of age.

Nationally the study says 32 per cent of nutrient slope clients are newcomers to Canada who person been successful the state little than 10 years and 18 per cent of users are presently employed, the highest proportionality ever recorded.

It blames accelerated inflation, housing costs and insufficient societal supports arsenic the driving factors for poorness and food insecurity.

Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley says nutrient banks are being pushed to “the brink” and low-income Canadians request assistance immediately.

The organization’s “poverty study card,” connected the interaction of poorness crossed Canada, was besides released alongside the latest nutrient slope numbers.

This year’s study paper gives Alberta a D-minus, the aforesaid people arsenic six different provinces.

Only B.C. (D+), Quebec (C+) and P.E.I. (C-) were fixed higher grades.

Trending Now

The study says that “despite being the nation’s wealthiest province, Alberta has not introduced concern that volition sufficiently tackle the ongoing lodging and affordability crisis.”

“As specified the state has declined oregon stagnated successful astir each indicators this year.”

The study calls connected governments to present measures that see rent assistance and a monthly outgo to low-income groups to assistance offset rent and nutrient costs.

It besides makes an urgent proposal for “a groceries and essentials benefit,” which Beardsley says could beryllium achieved by rejigging the existing quarterly GST recognition that goes to low-income Canadians.

“But we’re asking for it to beryllium accrued and made monthly truthful that it tin beryllium a much predictable outgo to folks who are truly successful need,” Beardsley said.

“People request wealth successful their pockets today.”

— with files from The Canadian Press