Alberta gets D-minus for poverty, food insecurity worsens
Food Banks Canada's report card blames healthcare costs, housing affordability, and deepening food insecurity across the province.
Alberta earned a D-minus on Food Banks Canada's annual poverty report card, marking the province among the lowest performers in the country.
The grade reflects persistent challenges with healthcare access, housing affordability, and food insecurity. Last month alone, Edmonton's Food Bank served at least 46,000 people — part of a troubling trend the organization says continues to accelerate.
"We continue to break our records, so every few months the growth continues, and that is an alarming trend," said Marjorie Bencz, executive director of Edmonton's Food Bank. "We'd like to see some of that soften a little bit."
The report highlights potential solutions including rent caps and poverty reduction strategies. Quebec scored highest with a C grade; New Brunswick was the only province to fail. University of Alberta economics professor Joseph Marchand noted the grading reflects real hardship but lacks detail on demographics or provincial comparisons that could guide policy.