A reported 55% surge in food bank usage in New Brunswick has triggered urgent calls for emergency funding, highlighting the escalating challenges Canadians face in affording basic necessities. Feed N. B., the provincial association for food banks, reports a dramatic increase to 50,000 visits per month, a significant jump from the 32,000 visits recorded in 2025. This unprecedented demand is pushing food banks beyond their capacity, according to Stéphane Sirois, director of Feed N. B..
The spike in food bank usage reflects a broader trend of rising food insecurity across Canada. A recent Dalhousie University report indicated that 34% of Canadians are borrowing money or drawing from savings to afford food, up from 28% in the fall of 2025. This situation underscores the growing number of working Canadians who are struggling to put food on the table, with nearly one in five food bank users being employed.
In response to the crisis, Progressive Conservative MLA Margaret Johnson and Green MLA Megan Mitton have urged the government to allocate emergency funding to food banks. Mitton questioned the acceptability of citizens being unable to afford food, emphasizing that it's a basic necessity that requires immediate attention. Social Development Minister Cindy Miles, however, has not promised immediate funding. Instead, the government is planning to release an "affordability framework" and highlighted the recently implemented subsidized school lunch program.
Food Banks Canada is advocating for systemic changes, urging all levels of government to address the root causes of poverty and improve affordability. The organization emphasizes that charity alone cannot resolve the crisis and calls for coordinated action to tackle food insecurity. The situation in New Brunswick mirrors national trends, with food bank usage rates having doubled since 2019, impacting over 2.2 million Canadians in March of this year.
