Question Period Note: NATIONAL SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAM

Update on the National School Food Program

• Children need healthy food to grow, play, learn and to reach their full potential. That is why Budget 2024 announced the creation of a National School Food Program, which will provide $1 billion over 5 years to provinces, territories and Indigenous partners.

• The Program will help expand and enhance existing programs starting in the 2024-25 school year. For families managing to put enough food on the table but struggling to pay for it, this program could result in annual savings of $800 or more for a family of four.

• This investment builds on extensive engagement undertaken over the past two years with a broad range of stakeholders from across Canada, including through bilateral conversations and roundtables, and an online questionnaire seeking the views of Canadians.

• On June 20, 2024, the Government of Canada released the National School Food Policy, which outlines the Government of Canada’s long-term vision for school food programs across Canada. The Policy sets out the principles and objectives that the federal government will work towards to expand school food programming. It focuses on ensuring inclusivity and accessibility, championing environmental sustainability, and fostering a culture of health and nutrition.

On September 4, 2024, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development announced an agreement that will provide a federal investment of approximately $9.1 million over 3 years to expand and enhance school food programs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

• In the coming months, the government will continue to work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand and enhance access to school food programs.

• The December 2021 mandate letters of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food included the commitment to work with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners and stakeholders to develop a National School Food Policy and to work toward a national school nutritious meal program.

• Budget 2022 reaffirmed the commitment for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development to work with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders to develop a National School Food Policy and to explore how more Canadian children can receive nutritious food at school.

• In 2022-2023, ESDC undertook engagements with Canadians and diverse stakeholders to inform the development of a National School Food Policy and Program. A What We Heard Report that summarizes the views heard during these stakeholder engagements was published and its results guided the development of the Policy. The Policy was released on June 20, 2024.

• Budget 2024 announced the creation of a National School Food Program, which will provide $1 billion over five years to Employment and Social Development Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada, starting in 2024-25, to work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand access to school food programs. This includes investments for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners, many of whom have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada.

• On September 4, 2024, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development announced an agreement that will provide a federal investment of approximately $9.1 million over 3 years to expand and enhance school food programs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

• Budget 2024 also provided $62.9 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to renew and expand the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to support community organizations across Canada to invest in local food infrastructure, with priority given to Indigenous and Black communities, along with other equity-deserving groups. Part of the expansion will support community organizations to improve infrastructure for school food programs as a complement to the National School Food Program.

• All provinces and territories dedicate some funding for school food programming and recently some provincial and municipal budgets have included increased commitments of total annual contributions over $270 million dollars. The provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Québec, and Manitoba all announced increased investments in school food in their 2024 budgets.

• The federal government continues to work with provinces and territories to flow the funding through bilateral agreements.

School Food in Québec

• A September 2024 Léger survey revealed that 54% of Quebecers favor a program offering free school lunches to all primary and secondary students, while 33% oppose it, and 13% are undecided. Support increases to 67% when a voluntary parental contribution is proposed, with 21% against and 12% unsure.

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