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Food Banks Canada has released its 2025 Poverty Report Card, warning that poverty and food insecurity remain at crisis levels despite small signs of progress.
The report shows one in four Canadians are now affected by food insecurity, a 38 per cent increase in just two years.
Smiths Falls is just one community that has declared Food Insecurity an emergency.
Unemployment is also on the rise, up 34 per cent since 2023, with young people facing the hardest challenges.
Canada’s overall grade on poverty remains low, underscoring the urgent need for action.
The report does point to what it calls, “glimmers of hope.” New national programs for school food, dental care, and pharmacare are beginning to take shape.
However, Food Banks Canada says without strong follow-through and proper funding, these programs will fall short.
The report stresses provincial and territorial governments must do more to fill the gap, with federal priorities shifting toward austerity and defence.
The full report is available here.
