The 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports might increase the need to use food banks.
That comes from Loaves & Fishes Food Bank, which provides food to over 44 communities on Vancouver Island, including 15 indigenous communities.
With the threat of US tariffs still looming, executive director Peter Sinclair says any event that causes economic uncertainty is going to result in a higher need for the food bank from the public.
“Anything that impacts people economically will also have an impact on their ability to donate to Loaves & Fishes,” said Sinclair.
“The other piece is that the vast majority of our food comes through our Food Recovery program where we partner with local grocery stores, wholesalers, and trucking companies to accept any surplus food that they might have. I can imagine situations where tariffs come in and disrupt the supply chain of food, and any disruption of that chain is going to impact us.”
Last year, the federal government found in an overview of the United States – Canada agriculture and agri-food trade, $32 billion US dollars in goods was exported to Canada in 2023, which is $46 billion in Canadian money.
For Canada, they exported $40.5 billion in goods, which is $28.11 billion in American money.
Sinclair says to know if that impact will be positive or negative depends on the situation, adding during the COVID-19 pandemic they found opportunities to access more food despite the big issues the supply chain faced.
He says a situation where a retailer or trucking company can’t get food to its destination can present an opportunity to help them.
“Our policy is that if you have food you need to get rid of, we will take it,” said Sinclair.
Sinclair hopes a solution can come bring economic certainty for the country, which would not only help the economy, but also lower the demand for their services.
