‘Harsh reality’: Ontario food bank use reaches record highs
Global News
In Toronto, the Daily Bread Food Bank says the need has hit levels not seen in its 41-year history, recording 3.75 million visits this past year.
Food bank use across Ontario has reached record highs, with Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank reporting its largest increase in the 41 years since it opened.
According to the Who’s Hungry 2024 report, there were 3.49 million client visits to Toronto food banks like the Daily Bread and North York Harvest — a 32 per cent increase from the 2.6 million visits recorded the previous year.
According to the report, one in 10 Torontonians are using food banks to make ends meet and more than 120,000 people accessed food banks for the first time this year. Over half of these new clients come from households with at least one working member.
In Toronto, food bank visits have increased every year since 2019, with 935,000 visits recorded that year. Numbers have almost tripled since then, a trend the report describes as “a grim harsh reality.”
In 2020, recorded visits climbed to 1.5 million, followed by 2.12 million visits in 2021. In 2022, 2.65 million people visited food banks, marking a 53 per cent increase. Finally, 2023 saw a record 3.49 million visits to food banks across Toronto.
This trend is not limited to Toronto. The surge is part of a broader trend across Ontario, where food bank visits have been steadily increasing.
Feed Ontario’s latest report revealed more than 5.8 million visits to food banks across the province in the last fiscal year, representing a 47 per cent increase since the onset of the pandemic.
Many food bank users are left with just a few dollars each day after paying rent and utilities. This year, the average was $6.67 left over per person per day, down from $8.01 last year.
Mayor Michael Prue said Diageo appeared to lose steam in its attempts to quickly sell a facility in his town as soon as Doug Ford stood down his threat to ban Crown Royal.
Dillon Whitehawk has been found guilty of first degree murder in killing of Keenan Toto, but not guilty in killing of Jordan Denton.
Waterloo’s police chief says snipers may continue to be used at large events as needed, following their deployment during a St. Patrick’s Day street party.
Parents and students in Nova Scotia and Manitoba are dealing with the aftermath of what could have been two deadly school attacks, after FBI intel leads to arrests.
The Toronto Police Association and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both called on the judge who suggested police witnesses may have colluded to apologize.
Most Canadians want the government to ban or regulate the use of algorithms to set prices, a new poll suggests — with half of respondents saying the practice is unfair.
Two Quebec men accused of fathering hundreds of kids have been banned from donating sperm in the province while a court case against them unfolds.
While 40 departments will collectively spend $23 billion more next year, another 85 departments will spend $31 billion less in 2026-27.
The policy is in its early stages, with officials reaching out to businesses in Ontario to understand who might be interested in bidding on the proposal in the future.
The agency says there are 45 of these boxes still operating across the country where Canadians can drop off tax returns, payments and other documents.
While the episode has not been released yet, Poilievre hinted that the discussion revolved around U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs against Canada.
The chances that pigeons are the source behind several complaints of defecation in the backyards of one Ontario city are low, city staff say.
Canada ranked 18th last year, finishing behind the 23rd-ranked United States, also finding that life evaluations for Canadians under 25 years old have dropped significantly.