Student hunger hits record high; 800,000 children lack access to school meals despite federal program

Canada faces a growing crisis as an unprecedented number of students are returning to classrooms without a full stomach.

According to the Breakfast Club of Canada, the nation's largest school food provider, demand for supported breakfast programs has surged by over 30 percent since the pandemic, leaving nearly 800,000 children without access to these services on any given day.

They estimate that at least one in three children in the country is experiencing food insecurity, leading to more pressure on organizations like theirs.

In response to the escalating crisis, the federal government launched the National School Food Program, committing $1 billion over five years to provide meals to children annually. The program aims to support students in lower-income families and Indigenous communities, ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food to start their day.

Despite the federal investment, the gap between need and provision remains vast. The Breakfast Club of Canada emphasizes that while the National School Food Program marks progress, it does not eliminate the need for its services.

To address this, humanitarian organizations have called on the government to make the program permanent and to allocate an additional $500,000 per year for research to measure its impact and improve its effectiveness.

While federal initiatives like the National School Food Program represent significant steps forward, sustained and comprehensive action across provinces, territories, and communities is essential to ensure that no child starts their school day hungry. The need for a permanent, well-funded, and inclusive school food program has never been more urgent.