1 in 4 Ottawa households facing food insecurity, Ottawa Public Health report shows

The near empty produce section of a Toronto grocery store is seen on Friday, May 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

The number of Ottawa households experiencing food insecurity continues to rise, as social assistance rates and the minimum wage increases have not kept up with the cost of living, according to Ottawa Public Health.

The 2025 Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) report shows 25.7 per cent of households experienced food insecurity in 2024, up from 23.7 per cent in 2023 and 16.3 per cent in 2019.

“Children, as well as Black and Indigenous communities continue to be disproportionately affected,” said a report for the Ottawa Board of Health, submitted by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Trevor Arnason.

“Because poverty, driven by inadequate and unstable income, is the root cause of household food insecurity (HFI), strengthening income-based supports are necessary to effectively address this issue.”

Dr. Arnason’s report says Ontario’s recent increase in the minimum wage on Oct. 1 to $17.60 an hour from $17.20 an hour still falls below Ottawa’s living wage of $22.80 an hour.

“Social assistance rates and minimum wage increases have not kept up with the cost of living, leaving many households (especially minimum wage earners, people receiving social assistance and single-parent families) without enough income to meet basic needs, including access to nutritious food,” Arnason writes.

“This widening gap between income and the rising cost of living reinforces that household food insecurity is fundamentally an income issue.”

While the report shows the monthly cost of healthy eating for a family of four in Ottawa decreased in 2024, it cites changes in the methodology and the costing tool.

The report shows the monthly cost of healthy eating for a family of four was $1,180 and $343 for a single adult male in 2025, down from $1,244 a month for a family of four and $435 for a single adult in 2024.

The Nutritious Food Basket survey was conducted in May 2025, which included a sample of 11 full-service grocery stores.

Arnason reports notes Statistics Canada says it costs a family of four $14,909 a year to eat.

“Rather than comparing food costs and how they change overtime, the main goal of the NFB results is to compare local food and housing expenses to available income,” Arnason says.

According to the Nutritious Food Basket, a family of four in Ontario on Ontario Works would receive a monthly income of $2,994. The report said that after spending $1,180 on a nutritious diet and $2,002 on an apartment, they would be short $188 a month. The report said a family of four earning minimum wage would earn $5,093 a month and would have $1,911 a month left over after spending $1,180 on groceries and $2,002 on an apartment.

The report notes an adult on Ontario Works would receive $892 a month, and after spending $411 on groceries and $1,253 on rent, would be short $772 a month. The Nutritious Food Basket says an adult on the Ontario Disability Support Program would receive a monthly income of $1,543 a month, and after spending $411 on food and $1,253 on rent, would be short $130 a month.

Dr. Arnason says Ottawa Public Health will continue to raise awareness about food insecurity, its health impact and system changes necessary to help people afford the cost of living.

Last month, council approved a motion directing city staff to develop a strategy to tackle the root causes of food insecurity in the city.

The motion, moved by Coun. Marty Carr, suggested the strategy involve advocacy to the provincial and federal governments to boost social assistance programs and index them to inflation and calls on the province to provide funding for organizations that address food insecurity.

Infant formula

For the first time, the Nutritious Food Basket explores the cost of infant formula.

In Ottawa, the average monthly cost for formula is $189, exceeding the provincial Special Diet Allowance of $145, according to Ottawa Public Health.

“Similarly, the provincial Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Nutrition Allowance (PBNA) of $40 is inadequate to cover the additional monthly food costs required during pregnancy ($96) and breastfeeding ($78),” the report said.

“These findings highlight the financial gaps for families receiving social assistance, making it difficult for them to afford adequate nutrition for their infants.”