Overview

Abstract (English)

Household food insecurity, inadequate or insecure access to food because of financial constraints, is a significant social and health problem in Canada. In 2012, 4 million individuals in Canada, including 1.15 million children, experienced some level of food insecurity. This represents nearly 13% of Canadian households. Food insecurity has only been measured on a consistent basis since 2005, and not all provinces have participated in the monitoring of food insecurity each year since then. Nevertheless, the available data suggest that in most parts of Canada, food insecurity in 2012 remained at or above the levels experienced in prior years. Food insecurity was most prevalent in Canada’s North (especially Nunavut) and the Maritimes in 2012. The rates of food insecurity in half of the country’s provinces (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia) and two of the territories (Nunavut and Northwest Territories) were the highest rates observed yet in these provinces and territories. The lowest rates of food insecurity were found in Alberta and Ontario, but even in these provinces, the rate of food insecurity was over 11%

Abstract (French)

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