A video is going viral on Twitter showing people in Toronto gathering outside a food bank for a chance to pick up some free groceries in the midst of rising costs.
The video, posted by Toronto journalist Ashleigh Stewart on Tuesday, has garnered over 1.4 million views as of Wednesday afternoon.
“The line this morning at the Fort York food bank. The struggle is real in Toronto,” she tweeted.
The Fort York Food Bank told Now Toronto that it is aware of the video and that this isn’t anything new.
“We have been experiencing long lines for the last few years, mainly due to closing our dining room during COVID and recently the higher number of clients we are serving,” Executive Director Julie LeJeune said in an email statement.
The food bank is currently serving over 3,200 individuals a week.
“We wish we didn’t have a line outside, it’s not very dignifying. It’s a challenge we are trying to figure out. No one wants to stand in line for an hour or so to get groceries,” LeJeune added.
READ MORE: Grocery prices spiked in February even as inflation cooled: StatCan
Other residents in the area also commented on the video that the lines are getting longer every week.
Hundreds of people weighed in on the conversation sharing mixed reactions, with some questioning what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is going to do about the issue.
One person said it was time someone else led the country and that Trudeau managed to take the “richest country and [turn] it into a third world country.”
“Heartbreaking that many Canadians have to resort to this while our PM lives like a king, giving billions to other countries,” another user said.
Some even called out the grocery rebate being offered by the federal government, stating it does little to help Canadians with food affordability.
Trudeau isn’t the only politician catching some heat.
“In case you were wondering, this is Doug Ford’s Ontario,” one user said.
And since this video highlights a larger issue pertaining directly to Torontonians, many feel that the city’s mayoral candidates need to pay attention too.
“None of our mayoral candidates should be talking about anything else but the fact that Toronto residents can’t afford to be Toronto residents,” one user shared.
Some people even put the blame on the individuals seeking support, claiming that the solution is getting a job.
Still, others believe the finger should never be pointed at those struggling because the issue is bigger than them alone.
In 2022, the Trudeau government introduced $4.6 billion in federal aid for inflation relief until the end of 2023.
The package includes $2.5 billion of extra cash for about 11 million people currently receiving the GST tax credit, providing low-income seniors an additional $233.50, a single mom with a child $386.50 more, and a couple with two children an extra $467.
