Food Bank Visits in Canada Hit 2.35 Million Per Month, Up Nearly Nine Percent Food Banks Canada's annual HungerCount report shows monthly food bank visits reached 2.35 million in 2026, a 117 percent increase from 2019, as the rising cost of living drives more employed Canadians to seek help. Food bank visits across Canada have risen nearly nine percent this year compared to last, according to Food Banks Canada's annual HungerCount report. Monthly visits have soared to 2.35 million in 2026, a 117 percent increase from 2019. The report compiles data from more than 5,500 food banks and community organizations across the country and is released every year. It found that the cost of basic necessities has soared since 2021, with food prices up nearly 30 percent, housing up 28 percent and transportation up nearly 24 percent. This is the story of what happens when millions of people are out of options, said Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley.Canadians Make Impossible Trade-offsIn the past, most people in Canada could absorb a small financial setback, she said, but those days are over. Canada's bleak new reality is that millions of people are making impossible trade-offs every day as they choose between food or rent, Beardsley said. This does not have to be Canada's story, she added, calling on all governments to act. Food bank visits are up in every province and territory except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.The most populous provinces saw the most visits, with 846,724 in Ontario, a nearly 11 percent increase, 785,889 in Quebec, up 5 percent, and 250,505 visits in British Columbia, a 14 percent increase. Visits are up sharply in the north compared to last year, rising 24 percent in Yukon and 29 percent in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The report calls for more investment in Canada's north to address the growing need.Gig Work And Employed Clients RiseThe rising cost of living has driven more employed Canadians to food banks. The report found that nearly one in five clients is employed, up from one in 10 in 2019. Among the recommendations in this year's report are changes to employment insurance to include non-traditional occupations such as gig work and a review of eligibility thresholds. The report also recommends doubling the Canada Workers Benefit and enhancing the Disability Tax Credit.Other recommendations include reviewing federal social assistance and investing in critical infrastructure, including affordable housing. Beardsley said governments at all levels must act to address the crisis. The HungerCount report is released annually and provides a snapshot of food bank use across the country. This year's findings show demand has continued to climb since the COVID-19 pandemic, with visits more than doubling over a seven-year period.