Strengthening Canada Starts With Nourishing Its Children

As premiers gather in Ontario for the Council of the Federation, much of their attention will rightly be on economic pressures and trade tensions with the United States. And as they tackle these critical issues, we must not lose sight of the crisis facing our youth, their families, and communities across the country. Now more than ever, it is essential that we place children where they belong: at the heart of our decisions.

Across provinces and territories, there is a shared ambition to provide children with the means to grow up healthy and thrive. Presently, this vision is at risk. Canadian children are under unprecedented strain from economic, social, and health challenges, with food insecurity and poor diet quality widespread. Recent findings from UNICEF indicate that Canada continues to fall behind its peers in key indicators of children’s well-being, particularly in areas such as food security and health[1]. Today, 1 in 3 children, or 2.5 million children, are living in food-insecure households[2]—a shocking 20 percent increase in just one year. And this alarming trend has been consistent over the years.

These facts serve as an urgent reminder that, despite the progress made through bilateral agreements under the National School Food Program and increased provincial and territorial investments to strengthen school meal programs, significant work remains to be done. Given the scope of the crisis, one thing is certain: we must act swiftly and with unwavering commitment.

Over the years, numerous studies have confirmed that access to nutritious food has a direct and life-changing impact on a child’s ability to learn and thrive. Ensuring access to school nutrition is more than a matter of health or education; it’s a long-term investment in the future of our society and the vitality of our country.

At Breakfast Club of Canada, we recognize that governments are facing challenging decisions in the midst of inflation, rising cost of living, and fiscal uncertainty. These challenges only heighten the need to take bold, proactive measures for children. Prioritizing the well-being of our children is an investment in the prosperity and resilience of Canada as a whole. By placing children’s development at the forefront and supporting families, we help build the foundation for Canada’s future.

This is why, in the same spirit of respect and partnership, we offer this reflection: only by expanding and securing permanent investments in school food programs can we provide our children with the safety net they rightfully deserve, laying a foundation that empowers them to reach their full potential.

Let’s keep the momentum and continue to build on the spirit of collaboration that has brought the Government of Canada and the governments of provinces to adopt national school food programs over the last years. Now is the moment to stand together around one simple truth: every child deserves a fair chance in life. Addressing school hunger is a shared responsibility and a challenge that we can collectively address. As children should be at the centre of our decision, let’s put their well-being at the top of our agenda by making such programs and their appropriate public funding permanent. Therefore, we ask our public decision-makers to act accordingly. This cause is too important for the future of our country.

Tommy Kulczyk, President and CEO of Breakfast Club of Canada

[1] UNICEF Report Card 19, How does Canada rank in child well-being among wealthy nations?

[2] Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0835-01  Food insecurity by selected demographic characteristics