About 60 pct of Canadians struggling to provide enough food for their families, a new poll says

The report indicated said that inflation is a contributing factor as Canadians are dealing with the highest level of inflation in 30 years.

Data released from Statistics Canada on Wednesday showed that some grocery items have already seen significant price spikes.

The Angus Reid Institute also calculated the “Economic Stress Index (ESI),” which considers debt concern, housing costs, household food costs, a participant’s financial situation compared to the past year, and expectant financial situation next year.

The four categories into which ESI divides include thriving, comfortable, uncomfortable, and struggling.

"Two-in-five of those in households earning less than $25,000 annually are Struggling according to the index, while a higher proportion of those in higher income brackets are more likely to be Comfortable or Thriving...For those who are Thriving, food costs are manageable, or an afterthought,” the poll states. “For those who are Uncomfortable or Struggling, putting food on the table can be a substantial challenge.” the report said.

Using the ESI, the Angus Reid Institute found that nearly 98 percent of those struggling find it difficult to feed their families.

Just 8 percent of those in the struggling category indicated that they expect to be in better financial standing this time next year, while the rest said they are not very optimistic about their future wealth either.

"For those who are Struggling, most say the second year of the pandemic has made things worse for them financially. Four-in-five (80%) say their household finances are worse off than they were a year ago, while one-in-five (19%) say things are about the same," the Poll said.

Overall, 27 percent of respondents fell into the struggling category, compared to 24 percent in each of the thriving and comfortable categories, and 25 percent in the uncomfortable category.

“In Newfoundland and Labrador, where nearly half (45%) are classified as struggling, many are without jobs,” the poll notes. “The province’s unemployment rate was nearly double the national average in December, and oil production fell last year despite a rebound in energy prices.”

On the other side, Quebec had the highest proportion of residents considered as thriving (33 percent) and the fewest considered struggling (19 percent).

People in Alberta (49 percent), Saskatchewan (47 percent), and Newfoundland and Labrador (47 percent) were most likely to report a worsening financial situation.

About 39 percent of Canadians believe their financial standing worsened in the past year, the report said.

Founded in 2014, the Angus Reid Institute is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation with a mandate to enhance a better understanding of issues and trends affecting economic, social, governance, philanthropy, public administration, domestic and foreign policy in Canada and its world.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)