At two schools in the north Etobicoke area, approximately 80 students attend the breakfast club each morning before classes begin. The students have various breakfast options such as hot pizza wraps, cereal, fruits like apples, clementines, and bananas, as well as yogurt and cheese.
Expanding the breakfast program to more schools in the west-end Toronto community faces challenges due to limited funding. Families in this area often struggle to prioritize between housing and groceries, according to Khudaija Sheikh, the executive director of Albion Neighbourhood Services.
To enhance existing programs, Sheikh collaborates with grocery stores and food banks like Second Harvest, while also seeking discounts and donations to cope with the increasing costs of food and staffing. Despite engaging with municipal funders, she has not yet received direct funding from the National School Food Program introduced last year.
In the recent budget announcement, the Liberal government committed to making the National School Food Program a permanent initiative. This move, with an annual pledge of $216.6 million starting in 2029, aims to surpass the initial $1 billion allocated for the first five years.
Although Canadian school food advocates appreciate this budget commitment, they acknowledge the need to address the fragmented school food landscape across the country. The goal is to ensure that all students have access to a sustainable and healthy food program at school.
Sheikh emphasized the importance of policy alignment to ensure equitable distribution of funding to all schools. She highlighted the detrimental impact of students attending school hungry, affecting their ability to learn effectively.
The federal government’s promise to establish a permanent National School Food Program with dedicated annual funding is seen as a solid foundation for improvement. However, according to Amberley Ruetz, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Saskatchewan specializing in school food research, the current funding level is insufficient to provide comprehensive meal options, such as a daily hot lunch for all interested students.
Newfoundland and Labrador were the first to sign agreements for federal school food funding, leading to positive outcomes, as noted by John Finn, the executive director of the School Lunch Association. The federal funding has enabled the expansion of school food programs in the province, benefiting a growing number of students.
Chris Peacock from Ontario’s Simcoe County highlighted the challenges faced by schools in providing nutritious food to students, especially with rising food prices and increased demand. He emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts from all levels of government to optimize and equitably distribute funding for school food programs.
Peacock welcomed the federal investment in school food but stressed the need for provinces and territories to play a more active role in transforming the current fragmented systems into efficient and sustainable models. He called for shared successes, pilot programs, and clear visions from provincial and territorial governments to support school food initiatives effectively.