FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, November 6, 2026 – Budget 2026, tabled yesterday by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, proposes $124 million over three years, beginning in 2027-28, to renew the Local Food Infrastructure Fund. The fund helps community organizations purchase food and strengthen the kitchens, storage facilities and transportation capacity needed to get nutritious, culturally appropriate food to people across Canada.

This is a critical investment in community food security. Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization, advocated for the fund to be recapitalized during the 2026 federal pre-budget consultations. The organization is grateful to Minister Champagne and Finance Canada, as well as Minister Heath MacDonald of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and his department, for their leadership in responding to the needs of community organizations.

The investment comes as community organizations face mounting pressure. Second Harvest's recent State of Food Charity in Canada survey, conducted by Ipsos, found that 89% of responding organizations experienced increased demand for food, 33% had waitlists, and 35% had turned people away because of limited food or resources.

“Community organizations are working tirelessly to meet rising demand, but too many are being forced to turn people away,” said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest. “This investment recognizes that getting food to people requires reliable infrastructure and resources. Strengthening that capacity will help communities access more nutritious food and keep more good food from going to waste.”

The survey also found that nearly half of responding organizations do not access food or support through traditional food bank networks, underscoring the importance of reaching the full range of organizations providing food in their communities.

Second Harvest looks forward to contributing its expertise as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada advances this commitment to strengthen community food security.

About Second Harvest

Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food rescue organization and a global thought leader on food waste and perishable food redistribution. It rescues unsold surplus food from thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain to redistribute it to non-profits in every province and territory. This prevents harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere while improving access to nutrition for millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity. Beyond food rescue and redistribution, Second Harvest is deeply involved in advocacy, research, training and education. Its groundbreaking reports, such as “The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste,” provide critical data and insights to inform public policy and educate the public on sustainable food systems.

Second Harvest is committed to driving systemic change, helping to shape policies and practices that reduce food waste and address its role in climate change, while also supporting communities by providing them with the food they need.  

To learn more, visit www.secondharvest.ca.     

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