This is an issue that is particularly important to me.
I would first like to come back to the statistics you shared, particularly your observation that the profile of people seeking assistance is changing. That is something you highlighted in your testimony today. We've just seen the Hunger Count report. The SOS Dépannage food bank in Granby brought this to my attention. Shortly after the report was released, I received an email from them. We'll be speaking soon.
Of course, we continue to see seniors turning to food assistance. There's been a small but steady increase. However, demand from employed individuals is also increasing. It is striking to see that, in 2026, having a job is no longer enough to guarantee food security.
Of course, food prices are increasing. There's no denying that.
Given what you've said, what are the consequences of sustained increases in food prices, not only for organizations like yours, but especially for households, and particularly those living on fixed incomes? Many seniors, for example, rely on fixed sources of income such as their pensions and the guaranteed income supplement. To what extent are these two factors driving the increase in the number of requests for assistance that you are receiving?