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Mobilize for Systemic Change

We develop policy solutions, build capacity for advocacy at the community level, and mobilize for federal income and social policy changes to address food insecurity.

Canada’s food insecurity crisis continues to escalate. In 2023, the number of people experiencing food insecurity grew by almost 1.8 million. Food insecurity now affects nearly 1 in 4 Canadians. That’s 8.7 million people who can’t afford to put adequate food on the table. Poverty is directly linked to food insecurity.

Food insecurity disproportionately impacts some groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized peoples, single parents, people with disabilities, immigrants, and single people aged 18 to 64 who live alone.

These populations disproportionately experience food insecurity:

PAU-website-image-final-SVG-1.svgCharts showing populations disproportionately experiencing food insecurityImage of donut charts displaying populations disproportionately experienced food insecurity

Sources: Statistics Canada (2024); Batal & others (2021) 

  • 46% of female one-parent families experience food insecurity
  • 46% of Indigenous people living on reserve experience food insecurity  
  • 37% of Indigenous people living off reserve experience food insecurity
  • 40% of Black people experience food insecurity
  • 32% of male one-parent families experience food insecurity
  • 31% of racialized people experience food insecurity
  • 30.5% of single people between the ages of 18 and 64 years experience food insecurity  
  • 30% of families where the main breadwinner has a disability experience food insecurity 
  • 28% of children experience food insecurity 
  • 23% of immigrants​ experience food insecurity


What does food insecurity look like where you live?  

Enter your address and find out at: foodsecuritynow.ca

Here’s how we take action

We work with over 400 partners through six regional networks across the country. Together, we call for a Canada that delivers on the right to good food for all.

We advocate for policies that increase people’s incomes, leveraging local relationships to drive federal action that will have lasting, positive impact on communities.

 

  • map of canada outline

    Build capacity

    Our partners work in hundreds of neighbourhoods across Canada and see the negative impacts of poverty and food insecurity firsthand.

    We develop and share advocacy tools and training so that collectively we can drive lasting positive change for people in their communities.

     

  • parliament buildings outline

    Develop policy solutions

    In Canada, food insecurity is growing because people cannot afford to eat. This crisis requires a multi-faceted response.

    That’s why we work with community food organizations, research and sector partners to advance progressive income and social policies that address the root causes of food insecurity.
  • people speaking outline

    Mobilize for change

    With local engagement and participation in national campaigns, we raise awareness of food insecurity across the country.

    We take action together to call on elected officials to implement vital income and social policies to address this urgent issue.

The solutions

A national crisis requires national solutions. We're calling on the federal government to invest in progressive, equitable income policies. 

Here are the changes we’re advocating for:

  • Establish a Target for Reducing Food Insecurity
    The Canadian government monitors food insecurity as part of its Poverty Reduction Strategy but this is not linked to any targets. Food insecurity continues to rise at an alarming rate. There needs to be a more urgent response and more accountability. 

    That’s why we are calling on the federal government to commit to a target of reducing food insecurity by 50% and eradicating severe food insecurity by 2030.

    To ensure the target is met equitably, we also call on the government to pay attention to reducing food insecurity among groups that are disproportionately impacted.

    Read our Food Insecurity Reduction Target policy primer for more details.
  • Canada Disability Benefit
    Living with a disability shouldn’t mean living with food insecurity. But in Canada, 30 percent of households where the main income earner has a disability have difficulty putting food on the table.

    People with disabilities are much more likely to live in poverty than people without disabilities. In Canada, over 1.1 million people with a disability live below the poverty line. And because disabilities create additional costs, like medication and personal care, it’s even harder for people with disabilities to afford food.

    That’s why we are calling on the federal government to adequately fund the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) and ensure it's not clawed back by provincial or territorial governments.

    Read our Canada Disability Benefit policy primer for more details.
  • Groceries & Essentials Benefit
    In 2023, as inflation continued to rise, the federal government used the GST/HST credit to provide a one-time Grocery Rebate.

    The rebate provided much-needed relief quickly and directly—but temporarily.

    We are joining a growing coalition of food security and anti-poverty organizations in calling for a Groceries & Essentials Benefit that would be permanent.

    Read our Groceries & Essentials Benefit policy primer for more details.
  • Canada Working-Age Supplement
    Having a job is no longer enough for many people in Canada to meet their basic needs. Countrywide, close to 60% of families whose income is primarily from employment experience food insecurity.

    That’s why we have partnered with Maytree to call for a Canada Working-Age Supplement that would replace the Canada Workers Benefit. This improved benefit would go to people between the ages of 18 to  64, whether they’re working or not.

    Read our Canada Working-Age Supplement policy primer for more details.
  • Employment Insurance Reform
    Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) program is meant to help people cover their basic costs when they are laid off and looking for work.

    Over the years, it has become increasingly clear there are problems with EI. Many low-wage workers don't qualify and others receive very little support. In 2022, 47% of households that relied on EI as their main source of income experienced food insecurity.

    The federal government has promised to modernize EI. We’re calling for reforms that would expand workers’ access to EI and increase the amount they receive.

    Read our Employment Insurance Reform policy primer for more details.
  • Enhance equitable access to federal income and social programs
    Filing annual tax returns is necessary to determine access to many federal income and social programs administered through Canada’s tax system. Yet, 1 in 10 people in Canada do not file their taxes due to barriers in navigating the tax system, leaving nearly $2 billion in unclaimed benefits annually. Many people who experience challenges in filing their annual tax returns are also disproportionately impacted by food insecurity.

    We are working with community organizations to support groups experiencing food insecurity to navigate the tax system and access federal benefits they are eligible for. We are also calling on the federal government to work with those organizations to implement ways to achieve equitable access to federal benefits.


Get involved with your Regional Networks

 

Do you want to tackle the root causes of food insecurity and connect with like-minded colleagues in the sector?

CFCC has partnered with 6 Community Food Organizations to establish advocacy networks across Canada.

Together, we’re advocating for increasing incomes and challenging unfair stereotypes and stigma around poverty.

Contact your Regional Coordinator today!

B.C. - Gordon Neighbourhood House
Sarah Common (they/she)
outreach@gordonhouse.org 

Prairies - The Alex Community Food Centre
Renée MacKillop (she/her)
rmackillop@thealex.ca

The North - Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre
Dana Milne (she/her)
dana@cfccanada.ca

Ontario - The Table Community Food Centre
Coral McMahan (she/her)
coralmcmahan@thetablecfc.org

Quebec - The Depot Community Food Centre 
Rachel Schleifer (she/her)
rachel@depotmtl.org​

Atlantic - Food First NL
Laurel Huget (she/her) 
laurel@foodfirstnl.ca

Poverty Action Unit: pau@cfccanada.ca


Key reports and submissions

 

Recent policy insight & actions

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