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.