Why are the Liberals abandoning hungry children across Canada?

Childhood hunger in Canada has become dramatically worse in recent years, with skyrocketing food prices and record food bank use across the country. Every day, millions of Canadian children struggle through the school day without the benefit of a healthy breakfast or lunch. Deprived of access to nutritious food, their health, learning, and future are jeopardized. This is a preventable problem with a well-established solution: a national school food program. Yet Canada remains the only G7 country without one in place. As a result, we rank 37th out of 41 wealthy countries in child food security, according to UNICEF. Don Davies is the NDP’s health critic. Photograph courtesy of Don Davies The adage, “you are what you eat,” holds true. If we aspire for our children to be healthy, happy, and successful, we must ensure they are well-nourished. Implementing a national school food program is not just a moral imperative, it is also a prudent investment in our country’s future. Such a program would guarantee that every Canadian child has access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food at school. It would also serve as a platform for children to learn about nutrition and food preparation, support local farmers and producers, and reduce food waste. Indeed, the benefits of a national school food program are well documented and widely acknowledged. School food programs play a pivotal role in enhancing student health. They encourage the intake of nutritious whole foods, while curbing the consumption of items high in fat, sugar, and sodium. This balanced dietary approach helps mitigate the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Moreover, the availability of healthy food at school has proven to bolster academic performance, graduation rates, and regularity in attendance. School food programs can also help alleviate anxiety and depression, and reduce bullying and aggressive behaviour, thereby fostering a more conducive learning environment. In addition to their health benefits, school food programs provide a significant long-term boost to the economy. A recent Canadian study found that a national school food program would save families up to $2,268 per child every year on grocery bills, contribute $4.8-billion to local economies through domestic food purchases over a decade, increase students’ lifetime earnings by up to 5.8 per cent, and boost mothers’ labour-market participation by five per cent. In 2019, both the NDP and the Liberal Party committed to invest $1-billion to create a national school food program, in partnership with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, and civil society. This historic commitment marked a rare moment of cross-party consensus. However, the Liberal government has since quietly abandoned its 2024 deadline to implement this program without any explanation or consultation. It has also failed to allocate any funding for this program in its recent budgets, despite the urgent and growing need across Canada. This is a betrayal of the millions of Canadian children who face hunger daily. It also shows a stunning disregard for the evidence and the experts who have advocated for a national school food program for decades. The Liberal government professes to care about the health and well-being of Canadians, and to champion human rights globally. Yet, it is neglecting one of the most effective ways to improve the health and well-being of Canadian children and to respect their rights to equality and development. With food prices soaring and food insecurity worsening across the country, this is an ideal time to act. We can make an immediate difference in many families’ lives, and plant the seeds for a much healthier future for our children. The NDP will continue to hold the Liberal government to account for its broken promise, and to advocate for a national school food program that meets the needs and aspirations of Canadian children and families. We believe that no child in Canada should go to school hungry, and that every child deserves a healthy start in life. It’s rare to find a policy that makes economic, health, and social sense. Establishing a national school nutrition program is such a policy, and should be started at once. Don Davies is the NDP MP for Vancouver Kingsway, B.C., and is his party’s health critic and deputy critic for foreign affairs. He previously served as official opposition critic for international trade, citizenship and immigration and multiculturalism, and as public safety and national security. The Hill Times