As government assistance decreased, the labour market faced changes that resulted in increased income inequality as many struggled to navigate the precarious labour market (Lewchuk et al., 2013). Canada saw an increase in poverty and food instability at this time. Paradoxically, the increased need for social assistance was met with drastic cuts to government social spending. Community and charity based organizations, such as food banks, soup kitchens and other community initiatives such as the Portland Hotel Society (Mate, 2008), emerged as a short-term response. Canada’s first food bank opened in Edmonton in 1981 and today food banks exist in 508 communities across Canada (Hurtig, 2000). This charitable endeavour that originated as a temporary
