'Unprecedented growth' in Canadian food banks prompts calls for it to be a top federal election issue

Demand for the services of local food banks has never been higher, and Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy of the Guelph Food Bank says she's worried about the impact U.S. tariffs will have on the local economy and workers.

"We're quite nervous about what that's going to mean for being able to provide food to people in need," McLeod-McCarthy told CBC News.

She said the southern Ontario food bank is seeing more people needing help than ever before.

"The word unprecedented gets used a lot and that's exactly what's happening: unprecedented growth," McLeod-McCarthy said.

Food bank officials and advocates say they want leaders and candidates to make pledges to end food insecurity a top priority during the federal election campaign.

Over the last year, they've seen an additional 1,000 people seek assistance. She said being able to help them all is becoming more of a challenge.

She noted that when workers at the Cargill meat-processing plant in the city went on strike in May and June 2024, 200 workers came to the food bank for help.

McLeod-McCarthy said they're worried about larger companies having to halt production or lay people off, and being able to help people.

WATCH | Cambridge Food Bank CEO Dianne McLeod worried about U.S. tariffs:

Local food banks say new tariffs will increase food insecurity in Waterloo region

1 month ago

Duration 0:52

The new tariffs have brought some uncertainty to our dinner tables. Experts have said we may feel the impact of the U.S. tariffs at the grocery store first, with prices expected to eventually go up across the board. It has some local food banks wondering if there will be more people in need in the coming months. Dianne McLeod, the CEO of the Cambridge Food Bank, says they are prepared to help if there's an increase in the number of people lining up for food donations.

Concerns about tariff impact on people, jobs

Emily McDonald works for a non-profit in Guelph. During a recent voter panel on CBC K-W's The Morning Edition, she told host Craig Norris she's deeply concerned about what could happen if a company like Linamar had to lay people off, similar to what has happened at the General Motors CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll.

Guelph is home to Linamar, one of Canada's largest supplier to car plants in North America.

"We've already seen a demand for services increased since the pandemic, especially usage among food banks," McDonald said.

"Having the tariffs be such a huge impact on the manufacturing sector, I worry about having a strong social safety net to make sure that, for folks who are facing layoffs, that they don't have to worry about putting food on their tables, they don't have to worry about being able to keep their housing and then paying for bills. It's a huge concern."

Jim Jarrell, CEO and president of Linamar, said that for now, the company is in a good position because the most recent round of U.S. tariffs don't impact auto parts.

But on May 3, that could change. A new set of tariffs could take effect that week.

Jarrell told CBC Toronto's Metro Morning if the tariffs persist, the company will "have to right-size and do what we need to do."

'Food insecurity is not a partisan issue'

Food Banks Canada has written an open letter and started a petition asking for campaign commitments to tackle hunger.

Its CEO, Kirstin Beardsley, said they're seeing "concerning trends" when it comes to how many people need to access food banks across the country.

"Food insecurity is not a partisan issue. It's a critical priority, or it should be a critical priority, for every single party and for our country," Beardsley told CBC Radio's Ontario Morning. 

"What we're asking for the parties to do is commit to a target of reducing food insecurity by 50 per cent by 2030, and in order to make sure that people have their basic needs met and that we end this food insecurity crisis."

Feed Ontario told CBC News that food bank use is at an all-time high, with more than a million people — adults and children — relying on food banks in the province.

In an emailed statement, Feed Ontario said they "echo Food Banks Canada's call to action."

"Canada's future should not include hunger," it said.

Food bank develops guide for voters 

The Food Bank of Waterloo Region has released a guide to help people ask questions of federal candidates related to food security. Found on the food bank's website, it offers tips on how people can make food security a priority n this election, including learning where local candidates stand on this and poverty-related issues.

Food Bank of Waterloo Region CEO Kim Wilhelm said there are three areas they want to focus on in the lead-up to the April 28 federal election:

• Solve the affordable housing crisis.
• Help workers on low incomes.
• Rebuild Canada's social safety net.

"With food and security at record levels right here in Waterloo region, but also across the country, it's critical that our elected leaders commit to solutions that are going to reduce hunger in our communities," Wilhelm told CBC News.

"We really encourage voters to think about the importance of food insecurity and its impact on our community, understanding where candidates stand on this, these issues and what the federal government can do to create lasting change," Wilhelm added.

"This is so important because food banks cannot continue to operate seeing the record-breaking numbers that we are seeing. Our system is collapsing."