Question Period Note: A FOOD POLICY FOR CANADA

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Launched in 2019, the Food Policy for Canada seeks to create healthier and more sustainable food systems in Canada, building on the Government’s ambitious agenda to support the growth of Canada’s farmers and food businesses. The Food Policy brings a coordinated approach to dealing with food issues in Canada by strengthening linkages across federal initiatives that affect food.
Budget 2024 included new investments to strengthen Canada’s food systems and make progress toward the Food Policy for Canada’s vision to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. These investments included $62.9 million over three years to renew and expand the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to strengthen local food security, and $42.8 million to strengthen access to culturally important foods through the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund, Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Local Food Infrastructure Fund
When the Food Policy was first launched in 2019, the Government of Canada invested $50 million over five years (2019-2024) followed by an additional $20 million in top-ups in the LFIF through Budget 2021 and Budget 2023. Since 2019, approximately 1,110 projects have been funded through LFIF over five intake periods, representing $65 million in AAFC funding. Projects ranged in funding size from $5,000 to $500,000 and spanned across all provinces and territories. For example, projects included community gardens and greenhouses for the local production of food, walk-in refrigerators and freezers for additional storage of food, and refrigerated vehicles for transportation and distribution of food.

Budget 2024 announced $62.9 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to renew and expand the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) to support community organizations across Canada to invest in local food infrastructure. Priority will be given to Indigenous and Black communities, along with other equity-deserving groups. Part of the expansion was allocated to the School Food Infrastructure Fund to support community organizations to improve infrastructure for school food programs as a complement to the National School Food Program.
• Small Scale Projects provide grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for initiatives aimed at addressing local food security needs through the purchase and installation of infrastructure or equipment. These projects must include a production element and will be funded during two intake periods: October 1-31, 2024, and Fall 2025. A total of $23.5 million will be available over three years, starting in 2024-25.
• Large Scale Projects offer non-repayable contributions between $150,000 and $500,000 for larger, more comprehensive initiatives. These projects must involve multiple infrastructure or equipment needs and include at least two partnerships to enhance community food security. The application intake for Large Scale Projects took place from January 13 to February 28, 2025, with a total of $19.2 million available over two years, starting in 2025-26.
• School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF) includes total funding of up to $20.2 million and was launched in September 2024. A total of 10 organizations have been approved for funding, which will further distribute funds to community-based not-for-profit organizations involved in the delivery of school food programming through a transparent decision-making process.

Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund
When the Food Policy was first launched in 2019, the Government of Canada invested $15 million over five years in the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund led by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. A previous project included $400,000 to help revitalize the Mackenzie Delta reindeer herd so that it may one day provide a sustainable source of protein to all Inuvialuit.

Budget 2024 provided $14.9 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to renew and expand the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to all regions of Inuit Nunangat to support local and Indigenous food production systems, including innovative northern food businesses, which contribute to food security in the North.

Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program
Budget 2024 provided $25.1 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, on a cash basis, to expand the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The funding will assist Indigenous communities to safely access shellfish harvest for food, as well as social and ceremonial purposes.
This funding will address ongoing resource pressures to deliver monitoring services in certain areas, especially Indigenous communities in remote locations. This funding could mitigate an infringement on Indigenous rights to harvest, as well as support federal government commitments towards Reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Implementing the UNDA Action Plan Measures

Budget 2024 provided $2.8 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) Action Plan Measures. This will bolster the policy and engagement capacity among Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Inuit Treaty Organizations to co-develop legislative and policy options to facilitate the production, sale, and trade of traditional and country food.

National School Food Policy
Launched in June 2024, the National School Food Policy articulates the federal government's long-term vision for school food programs in Canada. It lays a foundation for a future where all children can have access to nutritious school meals that help them grow and reach their full potential through a set of principles and key objectives which outline how the principles can be put into action.
This fulfills a commitment first put forward in Budget 2019 as part of the Food Policy for Canada to work with provinces and territories towards the creation of a National School Food Program. It also fulfills the December 2021 mandate letter commitment for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to work with the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners and stakeholders to develop a National School Food Policy and to work toward a national nutritious school meal program.
National School Food Program
As part of Budget 2024, the Government of Canada committed $1 billion over five years in federal funding to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Inuit Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to implement the National School Food Program (NSFP), working with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to increase access to school food programs across Canada. It was estimated that with this funding the NSFP could reach up to 400,000 kids annually and save participating families with two children in school an estimated $800 per year on groceries.
The National School Food Policy (released in June 2024) guides the implementation of the NSFP, articulating a principled and objectives-based foundation for nutritious, accessible, flexible, and accountable school food programming. One of the key objectives of the Policy is to create opportunities for local economies, including striving to support the participation of under-represented groups in the Canadian agriculture and food sector.
Bilateral NSFP agreements have been signed with all 13 provinces and territories (PTs) to expand and enhance school food programs in alignment with the principles and objectives of the National School Food Policy while respecting PT jurisdiction. PTs consult with school jurisdictions, delivery partners, and stakeholders (which often include local agricultural groups) in determining how to allocate federal funding to best support local needs and priorities. PTs report on their activities and how they align to the national objectives and principles through their actions plans and annual reports.
Food Loss and Waste
Food loss and waste is a complex, dynamic challenge facing global food systems, including in Canada. Food loss occurs at the earlier parts of the food supply chain, including production, processing, transport and distribution. Food waste occurs at the consumption stages, including retail, food services, institutions and households. The term “food waste” is often used to refer to food loss and food waste collectively.
• The UN estimates that 14% of total global food production is lost between harvest and distribution, and 17% is wasted in retail, food service and households.
• In Canada, it is estimated that more than half of Canada’s food supply is lost or wasted annually, and nearly $50 billion worth of food that is disposed of could be avoided each year.
• Food waste represents the single largest percentage (23%) of Canadian municipal solid waste disposed.
There are a multitude of reasons that food loss and waste is generated throughout the food system, including lack of awareness and quantification, operational inefficiencies, relationships among supply chain partners, quality standards, inadequate transportation and storage, inaccurate forecasting and inventory management.
Where prevention is not feasible, there are missed economic and social opportunities when food, as a resource, is discarded, as well as environmental consequences such as landfill methane emissions.

• The Government of Canada is working to ensure all people in Canada have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food.

• Budget 2024 announced key investments to strengthen food security in communities throughout Canada, including $62.9 million in funding for both the Local Food Infrastructure Fund and the School Food Infrastructure Fund as well as $1 billion in funding for a National School Food Program.

• Through the Food Policy for Canada, the Government will continue to ensure diverse perspectives are at the table, and coordinated actions are taken to address critical challenges facing Canada’s food systems.