32% of Ontarians Cut Meals Due to Grocery Costs

Ontario households are feeling the pinch at the grocery store. A new report indicates that 32 percent of residents in the province are skipping meals or reducing portion sizes because they cannot afford food.

The findings come from the Salvation Army’s 2026 Canadian Poverty and Socioeconomic Analysis. The organization surveyed more than 1,500 Canadians to measure the impact of poverty and housing costs. In Ontario, 13 percent of respondents reported using food banks, community meal programs, or food hampers in the past year.

Food affordability has become a primary worry for residents. It is now the top concern for 37 percent of Ontarians, a 10-point increase from last year. Only health care and inflation rank higher on the list of concerns for the public.

Captain Gina Haggett, divisional secretary for public relations for the Ontario Division, noted that the cost of living has moved beyond cutting back on extras. She stated that families are now making difficult choices between groceries, housing, and other basic necessities. Haggett added that no one should have to worry about affording enough food while also keeping a roof over their heads.

U.S. tariffs are a major driver of these financial stresses. Fifty-eight percent of Ontarians said their household has felt the impact of the trade war with the United States. Furthermore, 88 percent are concerned that the situation will increase costs for everyday goods. Twenty-eight percent of residents listed tariffs as one of Canada's top three concerns, up from 20 percent in the previous year.

Housing costs continue to consume a large share of household budgets. Twenty-eight percent of Ontarians spend half or more of their after-tax income on housing alone. Nearly half of respondents, or 48 percent, said they were not confident they could find alternative housing if needed.

Financial resilience is declining across the province. Thirty-eight percent of Ontarians use credit cards or other debt to manage limited resources. Thirty percent delayed or missed a bill payment due to a lack of funds, while 48 percent leaned on savings to cover basic needs. Only 46 percent of respondents expressed an optimistic outlook about their financial future.

Locally, the report highlights that 28 percent of Ontarians would require financial assistance within the first week of an emergency. Nationally, 83 percent of support-service users said accessing services improved their family's well-being. However, the proportion of Canadians reporting monetary charitable donations dropped from 79 percent to 75 percent over the same period. The data was released ahead of the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Kettle Campaign, which typically runs from mid-November through Christmas Eve.