2019 budget plants seed for a National School Food Program
Posted: March 25, 2019
Categories: Edible Education Network / Food in the News / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario
MP Carolyn Bennett, CHSF Coordinator Debbie Field, MP Julie Dabrusin
With last week’s federal budget announcement comes the first-ever commitment from the federal government to work with the provinces and territories towards the creation of a National School Food Program.
The announcement (and its recognition of the importance of healthy school food) is an exciting victory for those of us who have been working with the Coalition for Healthy School Food—now made up of more than 50 organizations—advocating for a healthy school food program in Canada. However, the budget did not mention any allocation of funds here.
It’s important that we keep this momentum going, so now is as great a time as ever to sign the petition for a cost-shared investment in healthy, universal school food programs if you haven’t already.
See the full media release on the budget announcement from the Coalition for Healthy School Food (CHSF) below:
Coalition for Healthy School Food Welcomes Historic Budget
OTTAWA, March 22, 2019. — The Coalition for Healthy School Food thanks the government for planting the first seed in their 2019 Budget by committing to a National School Food Program! For the first time, Canada will join Japan, Germany, France, Italy, USA, and the UK (the other G7 nations), as well as Brazil, Korea, Sweden, Finland and many other countries who understand the importance of a National School Food Program to the health, education and well being of students.
School food programs benefit children and youth, teachers, administrators, families, farmers and the local economy. The budget recognizes “the critical importance of healthy meals for a child’s education”, and “announces the Government’s intention to work with provinces and territories towards the creation of a National School Food Program.”
This budget’s National School Food Program is embedded in the new Canada Food Policy. However, unlike the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, Buy Canadian Promotion Campaign and Tackling Food Fraud action, the School Food Program does not include any allocation of funds.
“Today we celebrate the federal government’s commitment to a National School Food Program,” said Debbie Field, Coordinator of the Coalition. “At the same time, we were looking for a financial contribution in this budget because school food programs have been found internationally to be an effective health promotion strategy. In Canada we are facing a number of health crises that a National School Food Program could help address.”
There is tremendous expertise, creativity and strength amongst those who have created successful lunch, snack and breakfast programs across Canada and in Indigenous communities. The Coalition and our network of 52+ health and education focused community practitioners and national organizations look forward to working with all levels of government and other stakeholders in the implementation phase of the newly announced National School Food Program.
Today, we thank the government for planting the first seed in creating a National School Food Program!
1 Investing in the Middle Class, Budget 2019, March 19, 2019, page 163
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For more information please contact:
Debbie Field, Coordinator Coalition for Healthy School Food
(416) 537-6856
schoolfood@foodsecurecanada.org