Food Banks Canada welcomes National Food Security Strategy and calls for continued action on income security measures
June 12, 2026 – Food Banks Canada welcomes the federal government’s release of the National Food Security Strategy and its recognition that strengthening Canada’s food system requires long-term investments in food infrastructure, distribution networks, domestic processing capacity, and northern food access.
At a time when one in four people in Canada lives with food insecurity and nearly 2.2 million people rely on a food bank each month, it is encouraging to see the federal government take a coordinated approach to improving how food is grown, processed, moved, and distributed across the country.
We are particularly encouraged by the strategy’s investments in food infrastructure, including support for food hubs (such as food bank hubs), distribution systems, storage capacity, and processing infrastructure. These are priorities Food Banks Canada has consistently advocated for because they do help connect surplus food with communities, reduce food loss and waste, and strengthen access to nutritious food across Canada.
The strategy also includes important commitments aimed at strengthening food access in northern and remote communities, where food insecurity remains at crisis levels and where community-led solutions are essential.
“This strategy recognizes that a stronger and more resilient food system is an important part of improving food security in Canada,” said Kirstin Beardsley, Chief Executive Officer of Food Banks Canada. “Sustained investments in food infrastructure, distribution networks, and community capacity are needed to strengthen local food systems and improve access to ensure people across Canada can reliably access nutritious food.”
At the same time, Food Banks Canada believes it is important to recognize that food insecurity is ultimately driven by more than food systems alone.
Food Banks Canada’s 2026 Poverty Report Cards found that one in four people in Canada experience food insecurity, while 42 per cent of Canadians spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing and two-thirds of government support recipients report that benefits are inadequate to keep up with the cost of living. These findings highlight the need for continued action on income security, housing affordability, and poverty reduction alongside investments in food systems. With proper long-term investments and modifications to improve access, along with bold collective action from all governments, it is possible to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030.
“Building a stronger food system is important, but it’s only part of the solution,” said Beardsley. “Reducing food insecurity also requires ensuring people have enough income to afford the essentials they need, addressing hunger in Canada demands both.”
Food Banks Canada looks forward to working with governments, producers, processors, retailers, Indigenous partners, and community organizations to ensure the strategy delivers meaningful improvements for communities across the country and contributes to a future where no one goes hungry.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network. For over 40 years, Food Banks Canada has been dedicated to helping people living in Canada with food insecurity.
Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who – this year – made almost 2.2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our 2025 HungerCount report.
Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $1 billion in food supports and over $275 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity- while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes.
Our vision is clear: to create a Canada where no one goes hungry.
