Brampton – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today unveiled a significant agreement with the Government of Ontario to expand school food programs under the federal National School Food Program . This initiative will deliver healthy meals to an additional 160,000 children across the province during the current school year.
The agreement includes an initial federal investment of $108.5 million over three years. It is projected to save a two-child family in Ontario $800 annually on grocery bills, while also addressing broader food system challenges. The funding will not only increase access to nutritious meals but also cover costs related to food transportation, storage, and preparation equipment, ensuring sustainability and efficiency.
Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized the program’s transformative impact: “More kids in Ontario are now going to have healthy meals guaranteed in school, and families are going to save hundreds of dollars on groceries along the way — thanks to our National School Food Program.”
This initiative will provide over 9.8 million additional meals to children, including 130,000 meals specifically for Indigenous communities across Ontario this year. The program also supports teachers and working families by ensuring that no child goes to school hungry.
“Our National School Food Program is a direct investment into the middle class – helping teachers and making mornings a little easier for working families. It is also a safety net for the kids who need this support the most,” Trudeau added.
The federal government plans to collaborate further with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand this program nationwide, aiming to ensure that every child in Canada has access to nutritious food at school.