Charters: Canada’s school food programs must be year-round

Article content

Summer should be an exciting time. Lazy days, dips in the local pool, picnics, games and time outdoors with family and friends. For many at-risk families and communities, however, the joys of a carefree summer are replaced with dread as they lose access to the crucial food programs they rely on during the school year for their children

Last summer, parents told us they would keep their children home from activities because they did not have any money or food to provide lunch for them until they got paid at the end of the week. We were able to help bridge the gap, but it was a Band-Aid solution.

Article content

In 2023, more than 2.1 million children and youth in this country lived in households that struggled to afford food. We all feel it. Canada, once admired for its high living standards and robust economy, is facing a worrying decline. According to Food Banks Canada’s 2024 Poverty Report Cards, almost half of people nationally feel financially worse off than last year and one in four suffers from food insecurity. In addition to the need for short-term solutions, we will also face long-term negative effects on the health of our citizens and see an increased strain on the health-care system in the future.

The federal government recently released its policy framework for the National School Food Program to guide its implementation and feed an additional 400,000 children starting this year. Sustained federal investment in school food programs is a strong first step in addressing the rising needs families face. But hunger doesn’t start after Labour Day or stop when the school bell rings. Non-instructional days, including winter, spring, and summer holidays, are often the most vulnerable time for children, especially those from low-income households.

Article content

Based on international best practices and Canadian kids being out of school 30 per cent of the year, we call on all levels of government to implement the National School Food Program as soon as possible — and reserve at least 15 per cent of school food program funding for non-instructional days.

School food programs are most impactful when they address children’s needs year-round. The United States created a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to support the 80 per cent of families who benefit from school food programs but who did not have adequate access to food support over the summer. The SFSP works with local partners to provide meals directly to children, often in schools, community centres and summer camps in low-income communities.

In the short term, the program provides healthy food options while mitigating cognitive decline and summer learning loss. The longer-term impacts are where the results really shine, with increasing high school graduation rates, reduced susceptibility to chronic disease and a decrease in mental illness.

Across the pond, the United Kingdom created the “Holiday activities and Food Programme,” which ensures that children who are eligible for free meals during the school year have the same access during school holidays. While the program is largely means-tested, some funding is also reserved for families who may not otherwise qualify. This allows local school boards and organizations to identify children in need without significant administrative barriers.

Article content

Manitoba and Prince Edward Island have taken steps to feed hungry children in the summer. Manitoba has also included the after-school hours, recognizing the need to provide evening snacks and meals to youth most in need. In these cases, governments are partnering with existing, local non-profit providers to reach youth most in need. The programs will leverage existing food supports. Both programs will also provide early Canadian data on the impact and outcomes of year-round school food programs. The City of Toronto has also committed to the early stages of a pilot program.

Canada is the last G7 country to create a national school food program. It’s heartbreaking, it’s unfair, it’s un-Canadian. If we don’t take immediate steps to feed kids beyond the end of June, things will get a lot worse before they get better. Because unlike legislatures, hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation.

Owen Charters is President and CEO, BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada), which supports children and youth in need. 

Article content