Ontario strikes $108.5M school food program deal with feds to provide 9.8 million meals a year

Ontario has recently reached a significant agreement with the federal government that will bring a total of $108.5 million in funding over the next three years to support a school food program in the province. This funding is just the beginning, with further negotiations planned for federal support in the upcoming years.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds will be announcing this groundbreaking agreement in Toronto on Friday morning. This funding will result in an additional 160,000 students being fed and a staggering 9.8 million meals being provided annually.

This initiative stems from the Liberal government’s announcement earlier this year to allocate $1 billion over five years towards a national school food program. The objective is to deliver meals to an additional 400,000 children each year.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has expressed his full support for this federal plan, emphasizing the importance of providing meals to students to enhance their cognitive abilities throughout the day. He mentioned that discussions were ongoing with the federal government to determine the exact amount of funding they would be contributing.

Canada currently stands as the sole G7 country without a national school food program. Advocates argue that such a program is essential to address the gaps left by various provincial, local, and charitable initiatives that are struggling due to limited resources and high food prices.

In a similar vein, Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province to sign an agreement with the federal government to expand support for its provincial school lunch program. This $9.1 million, three-year deal will enable over 4,000 students to have access to hot lunches this school year.

Moreover, Manitoba also recently struck a deal with the federal government, receiving over $17 million in additional federal funding to supplement the $30 million already allocated for its “universal school nutrition program.” This boost will target high-needs areas, providing food to an estimated 19,000 children through enhanced breakfast, lunch, or snack programs.

With these agreements in place, the government aims to feed a total of 183,000 children annually, marking significant progress towards the goal of feeding an additional 400,000 children each year. In Ontario, the funding will be administered through 13 lead agencies and Indigenous partners who manage existing provincial school food programs like the Student Nutrition Program and the First Nations Student Nutrition Program.

Overall, this collaborative effort between the federal government and provinces is a crucial step towards ensuring that all Canadian children have access to nutritious meals at school, promoting their overall health and well-being.