Liberals plan talks to launch school food program before end of next school year

Families Minister Jenna Sudds says the government hopes to see kids getting meals from the national school food program before the end of the next school year, but it will take time for organizations to scale up their operations. 

The Liberals set aside $1 billion over five years for the program, which they promised during the 2021 election campaign.

Sudds says the deals will be similar in nature to the child-care agreements the government signed with provinces and territories to lower the cost of daycare.

Our National School Food Policy is an important stepping stone in ensuring that children don’t have to learn on an empty stomach. 🍏🍎

Here’s what you need to know! pic.twitter.com/d1QiFpMk5e

— Jenna Sudds (@JennaSudds) June 20, 2024

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new policy that will guide those negotiations at a press conference in Nova Scotia today.

The school food program will largely rely on existing organizations that already feed kids, and it's aimed at eliminating stigma.

Sudds says that means lunch, breakfast or snack programs should be available to all the children in a school.