Manitoba becomes the second province to sign an agreement with the federal government for the national school food program after Newfoundland and Labrador. Manitoba will receive $17.2 million in federal funding over three years.
In Budget 2024, the federal government committed $1 billion over 5 years to feed 400,000 more children each year.
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds, along with the Premier of Manitoba, participated in a news conference Friday morning to formalize the federal contribution.
Progress in Canada’s economic situation allows us to invest in what is most precious, our children. For me, the national school feeding program is a key program of our government, underlines Minister Freeland. Hungry children don’t learn well, and we’re going to stop that.
On September 5, the Manitoba government launched its universal school nutrition program. A total of $30 million was announced in the provincial budget to complete the patchwork of healthy meal programs in the province and to create them in schools that do not yet offer them, to ensure the existence of a nutrition program in each school.
Now, with this partnership with the federal government, we are adding different qualities and different kinds of food to these same students, underlines Prime Minister Wab Kinew.
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Wab Kinew promised during the provincial election campaign the establishment of a universal nutrition program in schools.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Trevor Lyons
Federal policy states that foods served must meet federal nutrition guidelines and requires participating provinces to report their implementation plans and results to the federal government.
The policy states that programs must be universally accessible and culturally appropriate while prioritizing local food sources and sustainability.
The agreement announced Friday by the federal government with Manitoba will allow more than 19,000 children to get the food they need at school, starting this year, thanks to initial funding of $3.8 million.
Minister Sudds adds that the majority of the funds will be spent on purchasing food. Schools can also use federal money to purchase equipment such as refrigerators or toasters, or to renovate school kitchens. These funds could also be used to cover the cost of hiring additional staff.
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Joël Mangin is director of student services at the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jemima Kalemba
The director of student services at the Franco-Manitobaine School Division, Joël Mangin, welcomes this federal financial boost.
There are some schools that, in the past, had free meals on certain days. He saw a higher attendance rate on those days. If students are in the school, they have a great opportunity to learn. If they are fed, even more, he says in an interview with Radio-Canada.
Sustain the federal school food program
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre rejected the school food program. He estimates the initiative cost millions, but has failed to provide a single meal. In December 2023, the Conservatives voted against a private member’s bill that would have established a national framework for the school feeding program.
This should not be political. In the House of Commons, we hear Pierre Poilievre talking about “bureaucracy”. I have to tell you, it’s incredibly frustrating to hear someone call feeding children ‘bureaucracy,’ says Jenna Sudds.
In order to sustain the program, Chrystia Freeland says: We can do this by supporting the elected officials who support this program. We know that it was our liberal federal government that created this program.
Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds hopes more agreements can be reached with other provinces and territories during the year. However, the political calendar may hamper these measures.
The next federal election is scheduled for the fall of 2025. However, Justin Trudeau’s minority government could fall at any time, if it is defeated in a confidence vote.
With information from Janyce McGregor and Anne-Louise Michel
