The Food Banks of Saskatchewan will be getting $2 million over the next two years. The Government of Saskatchewan made the announcement this morning (Thurs).

In a news release Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said. “Since the provincial budget was announced in March, the cost of food has continued to increase. This funding to Food Banks of Saskatchewan is an additional affordability measure from our government to help families and individuals manage rising daily living costs due to inflation.” Food Banks of Saskatchewan will receive a $1 million grant in August, and another $1 million grant in 2025-26 and the funding will be distributed to agencies based on the population and average food bank usage of the communities they serve.

Food Banks of Saskatchewan Executive Director Michael Kincade says Saskatchewan Food Banks have had their busiest year yet, making it challenging to build up sufficient food reserves.

The Official Opposition believes the grants are an admission of the provincial government’s failure to lower costs for those struggling to make ends meet. Social Services Critic Meara Conway says the NDP has consistently called for meaningful supports and real cost-of-living relief including temporarily cutting the province’s 15-cent fuel tax and fixing the broken Saskatchewan Income Support program.

This past spring, after it was announced the provincial budget would include a three per cent increase in the SIS funding, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlords Association, Cameron Chouette, stated that rents have gone up by about eight to ten per cent, so a three per cent increase to an already low rate doesn’t fix the issue.

Last Friday the Saskatchewan NDP visited the Moose Jaw Food Bank to draw attention to its dire situation. Last week the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank said it was running drastically low on supplies and ran the risk of shutting down if it didn’t get some help. The NDP Leader says the Regina Food Bank has been vocal about the unprecedented use and reliance on the food bank in that community. In Saskatoon, upwards of 23,000 people use the food bank in a month. And last year alone Saskatchewan Food Banks saw a 24 per cent increase in usage and since 2019, it has been almost a 50 per cent increase.