The Department of Social Development has announced the cabinet plans to complete a promised national school lunch program in 2024..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the department wrote in a memo this is to help families who are struggling with rising food prices..“School food programs can reduce pressures off family budgets,” said the May 30 memo National School Food Policy. .Cabinet would “over the next year develop a national school food policy,” it said..In a 2021 Ministerial Mandate letter, the cabinet promised to “develop a national school food policy and work toward a national school nutritious meal program.” .No program has been introduced and no cost estimate has been disclosed..“School food programs can play a role in supporting the approximately 1.4 million children living in food insecure households,” said the memo. .“They can also help address inequities in access to healthy food.”.The department said every province and territory helps pay for some kind of subsidized school food programs..“Data is limited,” said the department. .“The best available estimate is school meal programs reach a minimum 21% of school-age children. In addition to funding from provincial and territorial governments, most programs rely heavily on volunteers.”.The cabinet had not fixed any deadline to introduce school lunch subsidies. “Skyrocketing grocery bills are making things worse,” New Democrat MP Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, BC) told the Commons on September 25. .“New Democrats have been calling for one for years.”.“Despite their promises, the Liberals have only delayed action and disappointed families,” said Davies. .“Children are going hungry.”.The Breakfast Club Canada charity has also expressed concerns about delays..“At the rate the federal government is moving, Canada risks remaining the only G7 country without a school nutrition program for months, if not years to come,” its CEO said in an earlier statement..Government caucus members have publicly said they plan to introduce a program this term..“We all know life for Canadians is a little tough right now,” Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville, BC), a parliamentary secretary, told the Commons on October 6. .Cabinet was working “particularly on the issue of food for children,” said Noormohamed..“It is unacceptable there are children in this country, whoever and wherever they may be, who are having trouble getting enough to eat,” said Noormohamed. .“Everyone must have access to food. There is no denying that.”
