Why Canada's Food Security Strategy Won't Impact Food Insecurity

The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security (the Centre) acknowledges the release of the Food Security Strategy by the Government of Canada, its focus on bolstering local food supply chains, and its acknowledgement of the importance of Indigenous food sovereignty. 

We note, however, that the Strategy does not acknowledge or address the financial root causes of food insecurity in Canada.  

Food insecurity is not an issue of food supply. Food insecurity happens when people don’t have the money or resources to access food. To put it simply, lack of money to buy food is the greatest cause of food insecurity in Canada.  

The measures outlined in the Food Security Strategy will not address this central issue and will do little to help Canadians put food on the table today. 

In 2025, 24% of people in Canada lived in a food-insecure household. This amounts to nearly 10 million people, including 2.4 million children that struggle to afford the food they need to live healthy and productive lives. 

Launched in 2016, the Centre has been committed to working collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The Centre invests in research, builds cross-sector partnerships, and advances policy solutions that address the causes of food insecurity. 

Food is fundamental to human health, dignity, and social and economic potential. The Centre continues to call on the Government to target the source of food insecurity, the lack of financial resources, in its policy solutions. Without a strong focus in the Food Security Strategy on putting money in people’s pockets, it will fall short of its goal to address the structural causes of food insecurity and support the most vulnerable.  

In addition, creating a government target to reduce food insecurity could mobilize a whole-of-government approach to this pressing issue, which goes beyond the mandate of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. This would complement the investments being made to enhance domestic production and processing capacity. 

The Centre remains committed to advocating for these structural solutions and working alongside the private, non-profit, and public sectors to make sure fewer people experience food insecurity in Canada.