'How to get free food in Canada': YouTubers criticized for encouraging international students to use food banks

A growing genre of videos on YouTube and TikTok is angering some Canadians who say international students are being encouraged to abuse food banks in order to get “free groceries” A number of recent videos, with titles like “How to get free food in Canada ,” have been shared on social media and elicited a mixed response.

International students pay significantly higher tuition fees than their Canadian counterparts.

The use of food banks has soared globally since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UN estimates that 122 million more people are now facing hunger, compared to 2019 .

Cape Breton University student union president Damanpreet Singh says the food bank is not a place to get free groceries.