The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) is facing criticism over its “guideline,” which stipulates that international students should only be served after they have been in Canada for over one year. GVFB CEO David Long said that the guideline was created in response to an influx of international students, as well as social media posts about food bank misuse. Several individuals spoke to the press about the negative impact that the policy has on international students at a vulnerable time in their experience in Canada. “If we want to help international students, this is the one thing we can get rid of,” said Jaskaran Singh, an international student activist with Team We Care Canada, adding that the students who are new to the country may lack resources and support. Long said that in spite of the policy, the food bank would provide food to international students who are truly in need.
