Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley is raising concerns about rising food poverty, as demand at the Barrie Food Bank surges. Speaking in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Shipley recently pointed to the food bank, which now supports 8,000 clients monthly, up from just 1,000 at the start of 2020. Food bank usage surges Shipley said this increase reflects broader economic pressures on Canadian households. In March, Shipley said the Barrie Food Bank recorded more than 8,000 visits, a 12 per cent increase from the same month last year. He added that the food bank reported 377 first-time visits in the same month, up 30 per cent. “After more than a decade of Liberal economic policies, Canadians are falling further behind every other country in the G7,” Shipley said. “Canada now has the only economy in a recession.” He pointed to affordability challenges, high household debt and the growing need for food banks across the nation. Canada’s 2026 Poverty Report Card This comes on the heels of Food Banks Canada’s 2026 Poverty Report Card released Monday. The report highlights the growing strain on Canadians facing rising living costs. Canada received a D+ grade, up slightly from a D. Food Banks Canada said progress remains fragile. Recommendations included modernizing Employment Insurance, reviewing social assistance programs and federal transfers and tackling high living costs, particularly in northern and Indigenous communities. Ontario received a D- grade, unchanged from 2024. In the report, Food Banks Canada urged the province to end the eight-year freeze on Ontario Works rates, restore full rent control coverage for all rental units and introduce a poverty reduction strategy with clear, enforceable targets. It also found slow progress in many provinces, with food insecurity remaining at high levels in some regions.
