Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the next federal budget will include $1 billion over five years for a national school food program, a historic move that will mean Canada is no longer the only G7 country without a national program.
The government says this new funding will augment existing programs in the provinces and territories and aims to reach 400,000 more students in Canada.
To do so, the federal government will begin negotiating transfer agreements with the provinces and territories, similar to its child-care agreements, that will include key metrics to track progress and hold governments to account.
We anticipate these transfer agreements will be informed by the forthcoming National School Food Policy, which is expected soon.