A Policy Scan of Federal and Provincial Policies to Protect Households with Children Against Food Insecurity

Abstract

Household food insecurity (HFI) has become a persistent and growing public health concern, disproportionately affecting families with children and continues to worsen every year in Canada. HFI is defined as inadequate or uncertain access to food due to financial constraints. Children who grow up in food-insecure households are prone to negative health outcomes, including chronic diseases and mental health challenges, culminating in increased healthcare costs. Over 25% of Canadian households experience food insecurity, with families with children representing a particularly vulnerable group. The persistence of this issue highlights gaps in social and economic policies intended to safeguard family well-being. There are significant geographic differences in the prevalence of food insecurity among Canadian households with children living across the country. Between 2019 and 2024, maritime provinces reported much higher percentage of children under 18 years of age living in food-insecure households compared with British Columbia. Therefore, identifying policies that protect households with children against food insecurity across various jurisdictions, is urgently needed to guide better policy decision making. Using a search strategy focused on grey literature, policy documents were identified from the Government of Canada and selected provinces, a content analysis was applied to group policies into themes such as income supplements, housing supports, employment assistance, healthcare coverage, and basic needs programs. The interprovincial comparison intends to examine in the gap and effectiveness of policies having the potential of reducing HFI among families with children. Our findings reveal that the comparison of such policies offers limited insights to explain the significant difference of prevalence of HFI across jurisdictions. However, given that gaps remain in interprovincial interventions aimed at mitigating HFI among families with children in Canada, it is suggested that the current policies and interventions are insufficient to lift families out of vulnerable conditions. We found in this policy scan, the varied money-transfer programs and the thresholds for eligibility also contribute to the complexity of the problem. In addition, policy interventions that focus on housing, employment support, basic living needs vary widely, with inconsistencies in political priorities and policy direction, funding and resource allocation and implementation contributing to unequal outcomes across jurisdictions. This research emphasizes the need for coordinated federal leadership combined with provincial strategies to address the structural drivers of food insecurity. Strengthening income supports, implementing equitable childcare and housing initiatives, and advancing a universal school food program are critical steps toward reducing the burden of food insecurity among Canadian families with children.