Help for the Holidays

December 12, 2025

December 12, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, ON – For centuries, Christmas has been a time to give generously, not only to family and friends, but also to help the less fortunate in our communities. Tragically, this year, more Canadian families will find themselves in need than at almost any point in recent memory. As a result, 23 per cent of food banks have reported running out of food before demand was met in 2024-2025 – something only one in ten faced in 2021.

Across Canada, food banks saw over 2.1 million visits in March alone, almost double the number of visits in 2019. Nearly one in five of the clients is employed, but still unable to make ends meet, and a shocking 33 per cent are children. That’s as a whopping 39 per cent of Canadians experienced food insecurity in just the last 12 months.

The Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto has also seen an all-time high of 4.1 million visits from April 2024 to March of this year. More than 1 in 10 Torontonians now rely on food banks, with 82 per cent of respondent households reporting they did not have enough to eat in the past year. Sadly, 34 per cent of respondents reported an adult in their household had to go an entire day without eating.

The situation is no better across the rest of the province, with nearly 9 million visits to a food bank during the same time period. That’s an increase of 165 per cent since 2019-2020, as fewer and fewer Ontarians can afford the food they need. 34 per cent of those served were using a food bank for the first time, causing concern among 2 out of 3 food banks as to whether they can sustain their operations; high demand means half of all food banks worry they won’t have enough food to meet the need in their community.

Feed Nova Scotia reported that 5.5 per cent of Nova Scotians used a food bank last year, the highest share ever reported. The average annual visits per household also jumped from 5.7 in 2023 to 6.6 in 2024, as families have been driven to make more repeat visits. In Québec, this past March saw a whopping 3.1 million food-aid requests, the highest ever recorded, with children accounting for 35 per cent of all beneficiaries. 

With food prices soaring, some Canadians are substituting the traditional Christmas Turkey or Ham for a lasagna. Sixty-nine per cent report a ham isn’t a must-have, while 35 per cent say they can do without a turkey. But it’s not just the main dish, as 42 per cent would drop stuffing from the dinner table, and 28 per cent say they would go without mashed potatoes, once an affordable staple.  

As Canadians continue to grapple with the cost of inflation and rising prices at the grocery store, Conservatives are fighting to restore Canada’s promise so that all families enjoy “tidings of comfort and joy.” 

With families gathering together, we are thinking of those less fortunate during the holiday season. Conservatives invite Canadians to donate to their local food bank so that everyone can enjoy a warm and comforting meal this Christmas.