Breakfast Club of Canada Welcomes the Government of Canada’s Investment in a National School Food Program

 

Toronto, Ontario, April 1, 2024 – Breakfast Club of Canada eagerly welcomes the historic announcement made by the Government of Canada today regarding an investment of $1 billion over five years for a National School Food Program. This significant advancement marks a turning point in the country’s commitment to the well-being of all children and will help make life more affordable for families across Canada while 1 in 3 children is at risk of going to school on an empty stomach.

 

Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada, as well as Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Government Relations were present alongside Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance, Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, during the official announcement event held in Toronto. Their participation in this event highlights the important role that the Club plays as a key school nutrition organization on a national scale.

 

Since its foundation in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has worked tirelessly to highlight the importance of a nutritious breakfast every morning for all children. The Club’s close collaboration with the Government of Canada, its public, community and private partners, as well as its continued dedication to improving access to nutritious food for students, helped pave the way for this important announcement.

 

“The creation of a National School Food Program is a major step forward for the well-being of children, especially after a few difficult years due to inflation and the pandemic. We are extremely proud that the federal government has recognized Breakfast Club of Canada’s expertise and dedication. This trust demonstrates the impact of our work and our long-standing commitment to ensuring that every school-aged child across the country has access to the nutritious foods essential to reach their full potential. Canada is now giving itself the means to allow all children to flourish and transform their dreams into reality,” comments Tommy Kulczyk.

 

“After years of collaboration and representation with the government, we are witnessing the start of an important transformation for the future of young people,” states Judith Barry. “Under the leadership of Minister Jenna Sudds, supported by the commitment of her predecessors and the significant support of our community partners, we are taking a crucial step. For too long, Canada has been the only G7 country without a National School Food Program. We are delighted to see that the government has finally understood the considerable impact that such a program will have on the well-being and future of children and their families. Today, the unmistakable winners are above all the children who will be able to benefit from nutritious food at school.”

 

Breakfast Club of Canada will work in the coming weeks and months with the federal, provincial and territorial governments, municipal and school administrations, Indigenous partners, as well as organizations already working in school nutrition, on the next steps to implement a National School Food Program.

 

National School Food Program Timeline

1994: Founding of Breakfast Club of Canada and implementation of the first breakfast program at Lionel-Groulx School in Longueuil (Quebec), reaching nearly 100 children.

2006: Implementation of the first breakfast program supported by the Club outside Quebec.

2007: Implementation of the first program supported by the Club in an Indigenous community (Schefferville, Quebec).

2010: Launch of the 1000th program supported by the Club in Canada, reaching more than 80,000 children.

2017: At the initiative of the Club, the 19th Global Child Nutrition Forum was held in Canada. At this time, the Club now reached 203,000 children in more than 1,500 programs across the country.

2019: For the first time, the federal government mentions a national school food program in the budget. The Club now reaches 243,000 children in 1,800 programs.

2021: During the federal elections, the Liberal Party of Canada included the establishment of a National School Food Program with funding of one billion over 5 years as an electoral promise in its platform.

2022: Consultations on a National School Food Policy were launched at a Breakfast Club of Canada event with the Karina Gould, former Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

2023: Publication of the What We Heard Report by the Government of Canada on a National School Food Policy and the introduction of Bill C-322 concerning the development of a national framework to establish a school food program.

2024: Official announcement regarding the creation of a National School Food Program. To date, the Club reaches 420,000 children in 3,000 programs, including 45,000 children from Indigenous communities.

 

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

 

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada

Information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514-569-3594

 

Nutrition Month 2024 Breakfast Club of Canada: Committed to feeding young bodies and minds in schools and communities across the country

 

Boucherville, Quebec, March 1, 2024 — As Nutrition Month gets underway, Breakfast Club of Canada would like to stress the importance of providing access to complete, nutritionally balanced food at school. Throughout the month, BCC will be sharing the keys to the success of the menus featured in breakfast programs and the educational support given to the school teams that run them.

Breakfast programs: Lessons in healthy eating

Given the current state of the economy, families are relying more and more on school communities for support in teaching their children about nutrition. Breakfast programs are an opportunity to introduce students to new foods and encourage them to recognize their own hunger and fullness cues. By giving them the tools to control what goes into their bodies, we are empowering them to become their best selves. Having a breakfast program in a school community is a great way to get more vegetables and fruits into children’s diets, and help them discover locally produced foods.

Nutrition guidelines: Information and inspiration

Breakfast Club of Canada is proud to have a Nutrition Committee, the members of which have developed a complete set of nutrition guidelines to guide breakfast programs in providing wholesome, nourishing morning meals. During Nutrition Month, the Club hopes to share its expertise with as many people as possible and raise awareness about why eating healthy is so essential for growing children.

BCC’s nutrition guidelines here.

BCC recipes here.

 

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For more information about Breakfast Club of Canada or to arrange an interview:

Hermanie Desrosiers, communications@breakfastclubcanada.org

Federal Government Falls Short in Prioritizing Children’s Well-Being in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement

Boucherville, Quebec, November 22, 2023 – Breakfast Club of Canada was looking forward to the 2023 Fall Economic Statement with great anticipation. After meeting with key government stakeholders in Ottawa on Monday, November 20th, and after months of discussions, the Government of Canada seems to be insufficiently recognizing the gravity of the situation, especially with regards to the crisis of food insecurity among students.

 

Breakfast Club of Canada acknowledges the efforts made by the federal government to assist the middle class. However, it is evident that the announced measures are not sufficient to address the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly children. Over the past few years, Breakfast Club of Canada and various other organizations have expressed serious concerns. Yet, while the last few months have been marked by severe economic uncertainty for families, the government has still not implemented the National School Food Program it committed to nearly five years ago. This initiative was initially announced in the Budget 2019, then included as an election promise in the Liberal Party of Canada’s 2021 Platform.

 

“As Canada’s only national school nutrition delivery organization, we express our dissatisfaction with the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement, which falls significantly short in addressing the urgent crisis faced by children. The latest budgetary allocations lack the comprehensive measures necessary to effectively address access to nutritious food for all in our society. Urgent action is needed to ensure no child goes to school hungry. The Liberals should have by now honoured their electoral promise of 2021 to prioritize the well-being of the nation’s children by revisiting and reinforcing its commitment to implementing a National School Food Policy. This year, once again, it is failing on its promises to children “, comments Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada.

Food insecurity in Canada is the worst it’s ever been

According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, household food insecurity has reached a record high in Canada’s ten provinces. The University of Toronto’s latest report on Household Food Insecurity in Canada, drawing on the Canadian Income Survey by StatCan, reveals that the percentage of households facing inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints increased from 15.9% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2022. This translates to 6.9 million Canadians, including almost 1.8 million children under the age of 18.

 

Families with low-income are at the greatest risk of food insecurity, with rates nearly doubling the overall average (35% compared to 18%). However, the majority of families experiencing food insecurity have incomes that surpass the poverty threshold. In fact, approximately 80% of families dealing with food insecurity fall above the poverty line.

 

These estimates don’t include people living in First Nations or territories where rates of food insecurity are typically even higher.

 

“We are at a critical time as families and children in Canada are grappling with an affordability crisis of unprecedented scale. The Fall Economic Update would have been a good opportunity for the federal government to intervene and to prioritize investments in school nutrition programs, ensuring that every student across the country has access to the essential nutrients crucial for unlocking their full potential. It has used this platform on several occasions in recent years for budget announcements in exceptional situations. And we’ve reached an exceptional situation,” adds Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations.

 

At the end of October, the federal government released a What We Heard Report following public consultations to seek feedback on a National School Food Policy. While the report outlines the desired characteristics of a prospective school food program, no information regarding the subsequent steps or the timeline for implementation has been disclosed.

 

Breakfast Club of Canada will continue its efforts in the weeks and months ahead to work with the Government of Canada, as well as public and private partners on the development and implementation of a National School Food Program.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada
For further information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594

Breakfast Club of Canada Engages with Key Government Stakeholders to Discuss Food Insecurity Among Students

Ottawa, Ontario, November 20, 2023 — In honour of National Child Day Breakfast Club of Canada meets with members of parliament and senators during a Breakfast on the Hill. The event serves as a chance to discuss the importance of implementing a National School Food Policy so that no children start the school day on an empty stomach preventing them from improving their learning capacities, growing emotionally and physically healthy, and ultimately being able to reach their full potential.

 

More generally, the event provides an opportunity to draw attention to the mission of Breakfast Club of Canada, the only national school nutrition delivery organization, and to discuss the role that various stakeholders are called on to play to protect the well-being of children across the country and see to it that their rights are upheld.

 

A survey by Maru/Blue conducted earlier this year on behalf of Breakfast Club of Canada has shown that 88% of Canadians think that federal, provincial, and municipal governments should make child hunger and malnutrition a political priority. Moreso, 84% believe that the federal government should implement a national school food program, which the Liberal Party of Canada promised to work towards in the 2021 federal elections.

 

Canada’s National School Food Policy

Building on many years of working together with the federal government and the school nutrition ecosystem, takes the opportunity today to reiterate the importance of the federal government’s commitment to developing and implementing a National School Food Program. The event also gives the members of parliament the opportunity to hear the perspectives from regional and local delivery partners.

 

At the end of October, the government of Canada released a What We Heard Report following public consultations to seek feedback on a national school food policy. Ensuring that every child gets the best start in life is a shared priority for Breakfast Club of Canada and the Government of Canada. Today’s event is an opportunity to discuss the highlights of this report in a non-partisan way, and to realize that almost all participants of the consultation agreed that school food programs benefit children and their communities.

 

Breakfast Club of Canada is pleased to have been able to support the government throughout the process of these consultations and hopes that immediate next steps will be taken. A collective effort by the government and all members of the House of Commons is necessary to secure the financial commitments required to implement a cost-shared school food program that follows the principles and objectives laid out in the recent report.

 

Quotes

“The future of all children depends on the decisions and actions we are taking today. A National School Food Program would allow more children from coast-to-coast-to-coast to have access to nutritious food, which in turn would improve their overall health and academic performance. We will keep ramping up our outreach efforts to make this happen and help roll out a national policy as quickly as possible.” — Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations, Breakfast Club of Canada

 

“Grumbling stomachs can have a major impact on kids in the classroom, affecting their self-esteem and hindering their ability to focus on their schoolwork. In collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders like the Breakfast Club of Canada, we are developing a National School Food Policy to deliver on our goal of giving kids healthy and bright futures. When kids have the nutritious food they need, they can stay focused on what matters most: learning and growing in the classroom.” — The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

 

“Far too many children enter their classrooms hungry, and we’re committed to building on our National School Food Policy so every child can reach their full potential. Thank you to the Breakfast Club of Canada for your continued partnership on this important initiative.” — The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

 

“At a time when inflation is affecting families in Quebec and across Canada as they struggle to cope with increased financial pressure, 1.8 million children are living in a situation of food insecurity. These conditions are unacceptable, and as a society responsible for the well-being of our children, we have an obligation to remedy this situation quickly.” — Sylvie Bérubé, M.P. for Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, Bloc Québécois and Critic for Children, Families, and Social Development

 

“Canada remains the only G7 country without a national school food program. It is long past time for the Liberal government to keep its promise, and invest in the creation of this program. No child should ever have to learn on an empty stomach. A national school meal program will help ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life and the nutritious food they need.” — Leah Gazan, M.P. for Winnipeg Centre, New Democratic Party and Critic for Children, Families, and Social Development

 

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada

For more information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514-569-3594

Breakfast Club of Canada Looks to Nourish the Potential of Tomorrow’s Adults this Holiday Season

In collaboration with the Rogers ALL IN program, the Club launches the “Fuelling the future with a nutritious breakfast” campaign

 

Boucherville, November 13, 2023 – As the Holiday season approaches, Breakfast Club of Canada is launching its new Fuelling the future with a nutritious breakfast campaign to highlight the importance of nourishing the potential of tomorrow’s adults, especially in a difficult current economic context. The campaign, which will also be broadcast across Rogers Sports & Media’s platforms as part of the ALL IN program, will run until December 31, 2023.

 

With the year drawing to a close, in Canada, 1 in 3 children is still at risk of going to school hungry. Demand and need for breakfast programs continue to grow, but for the time being, the Club will have to continue supporting existing programs due to the rising cost of food.

 

“As we all know, families, children and society at large continue to be greatly affected by the increase in costs of food and living,” explained Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada. “That is why this campaign is so important, especially as we approach the Holiday season. This collaboration with Rogers allows us to get even greater visibility for the cause and help raise crucial funds. Now, more than ever, every gesture, large or small, helps fuel the future generation with a nutritious breakfast.”

 

A few months after children went back-to-school, the Club is observing an increase in attendance for existing programs. Indeed, breakfast programs are increasingly becoming important mechanisms for school communities to offer students a variety of nutritious foods. This giving season, the Club calls on everyone to give children the most important element to start the school day: a nutritious breakfast.

 

“The Fuelling the future with a nutritious breakfast campaign is a great opportunity to increase awareness for a cause that helps all children access nutritious food at school, regardless of the reason,” said Sharon Hinds, Manager All IN at Rogers Sports & Media. “We commit to leveraging our platforms to support Breakfast Club of Canada in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where children can reach their full potential, one breakfast at a time. We invite all stakeholders to join us on this journey by supporting the Club as they work towards reaching all children across the country.”

 

To find out more about the campaign and donate: https://www.breakfastclubcanada.org/holiday2023/

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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For more information on Breakfast Club of Canada or to speak with a spokesperson:

Hermanie Desrosiers, hermanie.desrosiers@breakfastclubcanada.org

 

Breakfast Club of Canada faces an increase in needs

Jeunes filles dans un programme

Inflation and rising food costs

 

Boucherville, November, 1— Barely two months after the start of the school year, Breakfast Club of Canada is facing an important increase in the need for access to nutritious food in schools, and a double increase: the number of children served has doubled in recent years, and more than 70 schools in highly vulnerable areas are on a waiting list for a program in Quebec. Added to this is the rising cost of food, which puts a heavy strain on the non-profit’s ability to maintain its activities.

In this particular context, the Club is asking the government of Quebec to include in its next budget the funds needed to deal with this critical situation by offering equal opportunity for all children attending schools in underprivileged areas.

 

Nearly 80,000 children reached in Quebec
Over the past few years, the Club has seen a steady and sustained growth in demand for its services, and this trend seems to have accelerated since the start of the school year. Interestingly, between 2020 and 2023, the number of children reached by the Club increased by 95%, from over 40,000 to over 79,000 across the province, while the number of breakfast programs has increased by only 30%.

 

A growing waiting list
Because of the high pressure of inflation on the organization, the Club must aim all its resources on maintaining its current activities and does not have the financial capacity to support the establishment of new programs. As a result, the waiting list has been growing steadily for the past two years. Today, more than 70 schools in the most underpriviledged areas in Quebec are hoping to see a breakfast program open in their area.

 

Too many hungry students
To ensure that all children start their day with a full stomach, the Club wants to reach all children who attend a school in an underprivileged area in the province (socio-economic index [SEI] of 8, 9 or 10). At present, nearly 180,000 children in over 660 schools in vulnerable areas do not benefit from this essential support for academic success and equal opportunities.

The Quebec region with the greatest needs are Montreal (68,600 children), Montérégie (28,600) and Lanaudière (14,500).
Other regions of Quebec also have very high rates of underserved children. These include Centre-du-Québec, with 6,600 children to be reached, representing 79% of students in underprivileged areas, Bas-Saint-Laurent (72.6%) and Abitibi-Témiscamingue (71%).

Quotes

“Our greatest wish is to be able to support children, especially those attending schools in underpriviledged areas. For months now, we’ve been doing our utmost to meet the ever-increasing demand. However, the needs are far greater than the means currently available. That’s why we’re calling on the government of Quebec to include the necessary financial support in its next budget.”
– Tommy Kulczyk, president and CEO, Breakfast Club of Canada

“Breakfast Club of Canada has the structure, expertise, financial backing from the private sector and the general public, hundreds of committed volunteers and a solid network of partners to reach all children in underprivileged areas right now. Unfortunately, we simply don’t have the financial capacity. We want the government of Quebec to make concrete, short-term commitments.”
– Marie-Claude Bienvenue, Vice-President, Government and Municipal Relations – Quebec, Breakfast Club of Canada.

 

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its sound governance and recognized by Aliments du Québec for its promotion of local food products, in addition to its efforts across Canada, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. Find out more on our website at breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

For further information
Virginie Aubé Pelletier
TACT
514 243-0329
vapelletier@tactconseil.ca

Source
Breakfast Club of Canada

Results of an IRIS Study on School Food Programs

Additional arguments put forward in favour of a universal school food program for the province

 

Montreal, August 31, 2023 —The members of the Steering Committee for a Universal School Food Program in Quebec (PASUQ) expressed their concern about the data from a new study led by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS) confirming a significant school nutrition gap in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It is the members’ hope that this report on the current situation will accelerate thought leadership and help make a universal school food program a reality in Quebec. IRIS statistics show that only 12% of elementary school children have access to a school food program, compared to the 61% average among high-income countries. Food insecurity affects more than 1 out of 5 children in Quebec, or some 200,000 students in the public education system. Major government investments are required to close this gap.

 

“We can and must do much more to provide our children with healthy and affordable meals in all of our public schools. A universal school food program would have major beneficial impacts in terms of public health, the reduction of social inequalities, educational success, the economy and the environment, in addition to significantly reducing the mental burden on parents.” — Maëlle Brouillette, PASUQ Steering Committee Coordinator

 

Taking a page from other countries

The investments required to set up a universal school food program would be substantial yet comparable to those made in other jurisdictions, many of which are much less affluent than Quebec. And, as the PASUQ Steering Committee points out, a reasonable portion of these costs could be covered by parents.

“Feeding our kids shouldn’t be seen as an expense. It’s an investment. No fewer than 25 countries have a school food program in place that extends to all of their children. Close to a dozen more run a quasi-universal program that provides at least 75% coverage. What’s stopping us from doing the same for our own children?” — Maëlle Brouillette

 

About the Steering Committee for a Universal School Food Program in Quebec

The PASUQ Steering Committee brings together a number of partners working in the areas of school nutrition, food security, the environment, sustainable development and before-and-after-school care. The Steering Committee’s objective is to document, assess and analyze school nutrition practices and to use this information to issue shared recommendations leading to the implementation of a Quebec-wide school food program for all students. The initiative is being led by Breakfast Club of Canada and members of the Collectif québécois pour une saine alimentation scolaire, part of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.

For more information:

Maxime Bordeleau
TACT
Cellulaire : 819 698-3105
mbordeleau@tactconseil.ca

Back-to-School: More Children than Ever Need Access to School Nutrition Programs

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Aug. 22, 2023 – Today, Breakfast Club of Canada is launching its important Back-to-School fundraising campaign to be able to meet the ever-growing demand for school nutrition programs.

Once again this year, the Club and its numerous partners will reach hundreds of thousands of children from coast-to-coast-to-coast and help them start their day with a complete and nutritious breakfast. A commitment that is all the more necessary as the current socio-economic situation is increasing the needs in the community as well as the cost of food and transportation that continues to rise. In recent years, the Club has seen a significant increase in schools across Canada requesting support for a complete school nutrition program. The number of requests to implement a breakfast program is constantly growing.

Furthermore, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, in 2022, 1.8 million children, compared to 1,4 million children in 2021, live in a food insecure household.

“At Breakfast Club of Canada, we are committed to our role as a national player in the school nutrition ecosystem across Canada, and we approach it each year with renewed ambition,” stated Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada. “Our Back-to-School fundraising initiatives are crucial as we are currently experiencing a perfect storm of obstacles making the number of schools wanting to provide nutritious breakfasts to their students increase each day.”

Throughout the upcoming year, the Club’s budget will only allow for the maintenance of existing programs with very few new programs in schools that will be put in place. Without the help of generous donors, partners and governments, the number of schools requesting support from the Club continues to grow.

“Our message is simple: as you prepare for the start of the school year, we ask that you take a minute to think about the children who will go to school hungry. We hope that a donation at the start of the school year becomes the simplest and most natural gesture of the back-to-school ritual. Indeed, providing breakfast at school is the easiest way to help all children reach their full potential,” explains Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada.

Numerous Impacts of a Nutritious Breakfast

School nutrition programs are recognized for their many beneficial impacts on children, school environments and local communities. Members and partners of various initiatives, including the School Meals Coalition and the World Food Program run by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, state that these programs, including breakfast programs, contribute positively to the education, health and well-being of children, as well as to economic development and to community food systems.

In fact, more than 900 schools recently reported to the Club that the most significant impacts they have observed through their programs include improving learning capacities and/or academic achievement (31.4%)*, meeting students’ basic need for food and/or reducing hunger (22.8%)*, ensuring students have reliable access to nutritious/varied meals/food (21.8%)*, building a positive school climate, positive relationships/interactions and/or a sense of community and belonging (19.7%)*, improved mental health, well-being, mood and/or behaviour (12.3%)* and providing a safe, inclusive and destigmatized environment (12.1%)*.

“Every day we see the real impact a nutritious breakfast can have on a child’s life,” says Judith Barry. “Never before has investing in school nutrition programs been so critical. It is for these reasons that we count on the support of individuals, our partners and governments to help children because success tomorrow starts with a breakfast today.”

The Back-to-School campaign, Breakfast Club of Canada’s largest fundraising campaign, will run until September 30, 2023. To donate online: visit www.breakfastclubcanada.org/bts2023/. To make a donation via text message: text CLUB to 20222.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

*Percentage of schools that reported this positive impact as the most significant.

For further information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594

Vast majority of Canadians want a national school nutrition program implemented as soon as possible

Boucherville, June 13, 2023 – As we enter the final stretch of the school year, a newly released study commissioned by Breakfast Club of Canada finds that the vast majority (84%) of Canadians say the federal Liberal government should make good on its election campaign promise as soon as possible to provide a $1 billion investment over five years to work towards a national school nutritious meal program.

Despite the Liberal Party of Canada’s promise in the 2021 federal election to invest $1 billion over five years to work towards a national school nutritious meal program, and the progresses made by Ministers Karina Gould and Marie-Claude Bibeau which led to several consultations to seek feedback regarding the development of such a program, no concrete funding has yet been put in place to deliver on that promise. Thus, Canada remains the only G7 country without a school nutrition program.

A majority (77%) of Canadians are upset and disappointed that nothing has yet to be put in place by the government to deliver on the expected meal program—and even one quarter (23%) believe the total amount promised is not enough.

1 in 4 children across Canada is experiencing food insecurity

Nutrition is key to children’s overall health, well-being, and learning. However, many children and youth across Canada are at risk of starting their school day on an empty stomach. In 2022, according to Statistics Canada, 1 in 4 children under 18 lived in a food-insecure household. That amounts to almost 1.8 million children, increasing from the almost 1.4 million in 2021.

Canadians are also firmly believing that the collective of the federal, provincial, and municipal governments should make child and youth hunger and malnutrition a priority (88%), and that students’ well-being should be taken into consideration so school-aged children do not feel stigmatized for receiving what they need (91%). In that regard, half (51%) of Canadians argue that a federal government-funded school nutritious meal program should not just be limited to school children in disadvantaged communities. All in all, Canadians expect the delivery of this collective effort to be provided in a safe, caring environment, centred on students’ well-being.

“We are now in the final throes of the countdown to this year’s school end. If nothing changes, next year just as many, if not more, children will be going to school on an empty stomach, preventing them from improving their learning capacities experiencing less stress, and ultimately being able to reach their full potential,” said Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada. “There has never been a more critical time to invest in school nutrition programs and we urge the federal government to finally commit to a long-term investment for the development of such a program with an immediate investment in the upcoming months.”

About the survey 

This Maru Public Opinion survey conducted on behalf of Breakfast Club of Canada was undertaken by the sample and data collection experts at Maru/Blue. 1,517 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panellists were surveyed from May 24th – 25th, 2023. The results of this study have been weighted by education, age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. When compared to the data tables, discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach more than 580 000 children in over 3,500 school nutrition programs across the country. The ultimate goal: access to a nutritious breakfast for every child, every day. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

 

Source: Breakfast Club of Canada

For further information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594

Federal Budget 2023 – National School Food Program

Children across Canada will have to wait

 

Boucherville, March 28, 2023 – Following the tabling of the federal government’s 2023 budget, Breakfast Club of Canada is concerned that no financial commitment to implementing a national school nutritious meal program has been put forward.

“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. Despite the federal government’s goodwill to implement such a program, we must recognize that the 2023 budget sends contradictory signals,” comments Tommy Kulczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer at Breakfast Club of Canada.

Nutrition is key to children’s overall health, well-being and learning. It is well documented that a healthy and nutritious diet is important to ensure optimal health, growth, and development, prevent various chronic diseases, and support learning. However, many children and youth across Canada are at risk to start their school day on an empty stomach. In fact, this situation may worsen, as inflation and higher interest rates make it more difficult for families to afford sufficient and healthy foods. As a result, many Canadians are adjusting their behaviour to cope with rising food prices: over 30 percent are eating less nutritious food and nearly 20 per cent are reducing meal sizes or skipping meals.

“There has never been a more critical time to invest in school nutrition programs and ensure that all children across the country have access to the nutritious foods they need to develop their full potential,” adds Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director, Government Relations. “Despite the federal government’s commitment to develop a National School Food Program, four years following the first budget mention related to creating such program, in 2019, there is still no committed funding.”

A first substantial, multi-year funding in 2023 would have assisted in strengthening existing school nutrition programs in all provinces and territories, accelerating the impact of resources invested by all stakeholders, and filling the gaps in their reach and quality.

Breakfast Club of Canada is committed to continuing to collaborate with all donors and stakeholders as well as federal, provincial and territorial governments, to ensure that Canada becomes a country where no children go to school on an empty stomach.

 

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach more than 580 000 children in over 3,500 programs in academic and community settings across the country. The ultimate goal: access to a nutritious breakfast for every child, every day. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

 

Source: Breakfast Club of Canada

For further information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594