The federal government plans to introduce a grocery rebate that could impact up to 11 million Canadians.
The rebate is a part of the 2023 federal budget that is being tabled by the federal Liberals and would be targeted toward low-to-middle-income citizens in an attempt to ease the stress of high food prices.
The one-time payment depends on the situation of each eligible recipient, which includes $234 for single Canadians, $467 for couples who have two children, and $225 for seniors.
The eligibility criteria and a schedule for when those payments will be made have not been announced yet.
Food inflation has wreaked havoc on the country for months, and Fort Saskatchewan is no exception.
Kassandra Gartner, the executive director of the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank, has been on the front lines and has seen first-hand how people have been struggling to make ends meet.
"We hear the stories from folks who are walking [into the food bank]," said Gartner. "People who have never had to access food support before, folks who never in their wildest dreams thought they would need the support of the food bank [are now] coming through the door and asking for help."
"People just simply cannot afford to buy enough food to keep it on their table now."
According to Gartner, a grocery rebate is a positive measure, but she thinks this should only be treated as one step of many.
"Yes, a rebate will bring some short-term relief to many households, but it is a temporary solution to the affordability issues that Albertans and Canadians face," said Gartner.
"The one-time affordability grocery support is a good first step."
The number of people relying on the food bank's service is up through the first few months of 2023, with 40 new households now relying on their service.
Food hamper distribution in January and February was up 30 per cent compared to last year.
"We are seeing the ongoing increase, month-over-month."
High food prices will obviously drive more people toward the food bank, but something that is often forgotten is how these prices will impact the food bank directly.
"We buy a lot of food," said Gartner. "For reference, a $100 donation in 2020 purchased 39lbs of food and that same $100 donation in 2023 only purchases 31lbs of food."
"The food items that have increased the most, things like protein, dairy, and produce, we buy significant volumes of."
On top of that, there is also the impact this could have on some of the donor households that contribute to the food bank.
"They are feeling the pinch as well, affecting the volume of donations we are receiving."
More information about the specifics of the rebate is expected in the future as the legislation gets passed.
You will have the chance to help out the food bank this weekend with the first annual Servus Credit Union Spring Food Drive happening all across Fort Saskatchewan.