By: Debbie Field, National Coordinator, Coalition for Healthy School Food (CHSF)
We are thrilled that Canada’s National School Food Program is officially here, with agreements signed with all provinces and territories as of March 10th, 2025.
Canada’s newest social program will have a positive generational impact, improving the health, educational outcomes, and well-being of children and youth in Canada now and into the future. It also has the potential to strengthen communities and local economies, which is particularly important now with continued food affordability concerns and the threat of tariffs.
All 10 provinces and 3 territories, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), and many Indigenous schools will receive funds from the National School Food Program, which will be integrated into their existing school food program funding streams and accountability mechanisms. Three-year agreements have been signed, with $79 million allocated from the federal government in 2024-2025, $201 million for 2025-2026, and $218 million for 2026-2027.
After decades of advocacy and multiple setbacks and delays, we are delighted that the agreements were signed before the March 31, 2025, deadline. Details of the agreements are not yet public, but we have heard the agreements follow the June 2024 National School Food Policy's six principles: “Accessible, Health promoting, Inclusive, Flexible, Accountable, Sustainable”, based on the Coalition’s Guiding Principles.
The success of the National School Food Program is the result of the grassroots advocacy of the Coalition’s 500+ members and endorsers who worked to change the conversation around school food over the past decade. We did so through hundreds of school food program tours, meetings with elected officials, and op-eds, as well as conversations with teachers, parents and diverse community members.
This monumental win has been achieved through years of collective advocacy, and we want to thank the thousands of members, endorsers, and supporters who have worked so hard to make the National School Food Program a reality.
Members, endorsers and supporters have also been thanking the Coalition:
On behalf of APPLE Schools, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your incredible leadership and dedication in advancing the national healthy school food policy and program. Securing the commitment of all 13 provinces and territories is a remarkable achievement—one that will have a lasting impact on the health and well-being of children across Canada.
APPLE Schools is grateful to have allies like you championing policies and funding that make a real difference in kids' lives. Your work is inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to support and collaborate on initiatives that help students build lifelong healthy habits.
Congratulations on this milestone, and thank you for your tireless efforts to make school food better for all!
Warm regards, Jenn Flynn Executive Director APPLE Schools Edmonton, Alberta |
Now that Canada has a national school food program, we need to ensure its continuity, stability, and growth.
The Coalition hopes everyone will get involved in the next steps, including:
Asking all federal political parties running in the 2025 election to:
Include $201 million in the main estimates to be passed in parliament in 2025 so Year Two of the National School Food Program funding can flow;
Pass legislation to embed school food in law, as Finland, Japan, Brazil, and many countries have done;
Grow the National School Food Program into a universal program for Canada.
Working in every province and territory to increase their yearly allocation to school food.
Sharing successful models to ensure that children and youth participate in the best possible school food programs.
2025 will be a big year for school food program expansion and growth in Canada. We look forward to working with so many school food champions on the next stage of program implementation and advocacy!
“This is probably one of the most important things that we can do for a whole generation,” says Debbie Field, national coordinator for the Coalition for Healthy School Food, a non-profit organization. “We know that those countries who have invested in universal school food programs show outcomes at the educational and health level that are fabulous.” (All provinces and territories join Ottawa’s national school food program, David McGinn, Globe and Mail, March 11, 2025) |
Opmerkingen