2025 Federal election | Party platforms

In this blog, we explore what we believe it will take to meaningfully address food insecurity in Canada and highlight critical policy areas that need attention. While party platforms continue to emerge, there is already a clear picture of where urgent action is required.

Key policy priorities

The three campaign demands of the #NoMoreScraps campaign are as follows:

• Cut food insecurity in half by 2030.
• Ensure everyone can afford the basics.
  • Create a Groceries and Essentials Benefit
  • Create a Canada Working-Age Supplement
  • Expand Canada Disability Benefit
  • Enhance Employment Insurance
• Uphold Indigenous food sovereignty.

Our overall take

Canada is facing a food insecurity crisis, impacting over 8.7 million people including 2.1 million children. This is a national emergency that demands bold, systemic action. Yet in the lead-up to this election, there is insufficient commitment to strengthen income and social programs, which are well proven to move the dial on food insecurity. Despite ongoing calls for Indigenous reconciliation, there are limited pledges to support Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives.

In the face of mounting hardship, many current policy proposals focus on tax cuts and incentives. While such measures may increase take-home pay, they do little to address the root causes of inequality and risk reducing government revenue precisely when public investment in social infrastructure is most needed.

In fact, the evidence indicates that tax cuts do not meaningfully benefit those struggling the most. Economic growth initiatives—such as boosting employment and building more houses—can help ensure an affordable cost of living for Canadians. However, they can never replace social safety net programs that provide much-needed support for the most vulnerable members of our society.

Policy priority 1: Cut food insecurity in half by 2030

Against the backdrop of skyrocketing food insecurity in Canada, we’re calling for a policy that sets a target to cut food insecurity by 50% by 2030. This policy would ensure urgency, accountability, and effective targeting of food insecurity-reducing interventions. To achieve this target, interventions must:

• Strengthen income supports.
• Expand social programs like Employment Insurance and dental care.
• Address systemic barriers that prevent Canadians from accessing nourishing food and other essentials.

Policy priority 2: Ensure everyone can afford the basics

In Canada, food insecurity exists because people can’t afford food. And food insecurity reflects deprivation in many other basic needs. It is often the first expense people cut on their budgets to prioritize other basics like paying their rent or mortgage or buying essential medication.

Considerable evidence indicates that policies that increase peoples’ incomes will effectively reduce food insecurity. That’s why we’re calling for policies that ensure that everyone can afford their basics, including food. Such policy levers include:

• Transforming the current GST/HST Credit into an enhanced Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
• Transforming the current Canada Workers Benefit into an enhanced Canada Working-Age Supplement.
• Expanding the Canada Disability Benefit.
• Reforming Employment Insurance.

Policy priority 3: Uphold Indigenous food sovereignty

Indigenous peoples in Canada face twice as high food insecurity rates as the national rate. Colonial food policies and systems have curtailed Indigenous peoples’ traditional food systems and impacted their ability to produce food that meets their cultural and dietary preferences. Food in Northern Canada is much more expensive compared to the rest of Canada.

That’s why we remain resolute in demanding policies that uphold Indigenous food sovereignty. Such policies must:

• Strengthen Indigenous-led food systems, including hunting, fishing, and gathering rights.
• Foster collaboration with Indigenous Nations to strengthen their self-determination and control over their food systems.
• Provide targeted funding and programs to address the high cost of food in Northern Canada.

Invoking national and international frameworks—such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action—without concrete, funded implementation plans is insufficient. Meaningful change requires action that respects Indigenous leadership and sovereignty in food policy.

Conclusion

At a time of economic uncertainty and undue stress, Canada needs elected officials who inspire hope and determination particularly for those who are persistently marginalized. Elected officials must provide clear, effective, and actionable policies that address food insecurity and inequality in our country. Bold investments in income supports and social programs, coupled with Indigenous-led solutions, are essential to ensure that everyone can afford the basics. The time for action is now. No more delays and certainly, #NoMoreScraps!