Building Canada strong must include protecting people from food insecurity
Canada is entering a new period of economic uncertainty. Food Banks Canada supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient country. However, the consequences of the new U.S. tariffs and the broader economic disruption will not be felt equally. Higher prices and potential job losses will have the greatest impact on people who are already struggling to make ends meet.
One in four Canadians is already experiencing food insecurity. At the same time, the proportion of people in Canada reporting that they are financially stressed has risen from 30% to 44% over the past two years. Unemployment has remained above 6% for more than two years, with young people experiencing unemployment at roughly twice the overall rate.
People are already struggling. Another economic shock will put additional pressure on households that have little room left in their budgets.
A food-insecure Canada is a divided Canada
The Government of Canada has emphasized that Canada must become more resilient, focusing on what we can control and build at home.
We agree. But economic strength cannot be measured only by growth, jobs or trade. A strong Canada is one where people have access to the income and essential goods they need to withstand economic shocks. Food insecurity is a measure of whether they do.
Food Banks Canada’s research shows that people experiencing food insecurity are significantly more likely to report poor overall and mental health, higher levels of stress and a weaker sense of belonging to their communities. When people cannot afford to meet their basic needs, the consequences extend beyond individual households. They affect the resilience and cohesion of communities across the country.
That is why Canada’s response to this period of uncertainty must include strengthening the systems that protect people when economic shocks hit.
Canada needs to strengthen its income supports
The most immediate priority should be permanent reform of Employment Insurance.
Canada’s labour market has changed, but EI has not kept pace. Too many workers in part-time, seasonal, temporary, contract and other forms of non-standard employment struggle to access support when they lose work. That is a problem in any economy. It is particularly urgent under the current circumstances.
Canada needs an EI system capable of protecting workers through economic uncertainty. Food Banks Canada is calling for permanent reform to expand access, improve benefit adequacy and ensure the program reflects the realities of today’s workforce.
Food Banks Canada welcomes the federal government’s $7.5 billion support package announced this week, including the extension or introduction of several temporary EI-related measures that will make a real difference for workers affected by the current trade disruption.
But the need for another round of temporary, tariff-specific EI relief is a red flag. Canada’s EI system continues to require emergency top-ups each time the economy is shocked, rather than functioning as a durable safety net on its own. That is not a long-term resiliency plan; it is crisis management repeated every few years. If Canada is serious about building lasting strength, these temporary measures should be the starting point for permanent reform, not a substitute for it.
EI will not reach everyone who needs support. For Canadians outside the labour market, inadequate social assistance remains a significant driver of poverty and food insecurity.
Canada also needs to build a more resilient food system
Income is the primary driver of food insecurity, but the price and availability of food also matter—particularly at a time when food prices are being affected by climate change, global conflict and other forces beyond Canada’s control.
If Canada is serious about becoming less dependent on external shocks, it must strengthen the infrastructure that supports its domestic food system. This includes investing in food banks, which will inevitably be asked to shoulder the burden of feeding more people until we see the end of this crisis.
Building Canada strong means building for everyone
If we are going to build Canada strong, we need to strengthen the income supports that help people in Canada weather economic shocks and invest in the food infrastructure that makes our country more resilient.
Canada can weather this storm. But building Canada strong means making sure everyone has the security to weather it with us.
