Opinion: Sask. risks losing $17 million for school food programs

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In the April 2024 federal budget, the government allocated $1 billion over five years to fund a national school food program.

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If the government of Saskatchewan does not act in the next week, before a potential federal election call, and sign an agreement for a portion of this funding, the children of this province will lose out on about $17 million of federal funding for school food programs over the next three years.

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Currently, seven provinces and territories and many First Nations governments have signed agreements for federal funding, with the rest expected shortly. An investment of that size would triple the current funding in Saskatchewan, which is the lowest in Canada.

This school food funding would create new jobs and new dollars spent on vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meat, pulses and grains, all products of importance to Saskatchewan farming communities.

Globally, school food programs improve education outcomes, student mental and nutritional health, with at least three dollars return for every dollar invested. They also make a difference to families who are struggling financially.

School food programs simply make good sense, which is the reason why most kids in affluent countries like Canada receive a meal at school.

Recent research funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has found that 37 per cent of new cases of heart disease and stroke and 38 per cent of deaths can be attributed to consumption of the types of ultra-processed foods kids typically eat in their lunches from home.

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But meals made by food service workers at schools using high-quality, basic ingredients produced by Saskatchewan farmers can shift kids’ eating patterns towards the kinds of food we need to be healthy.

Meals served at school aren’t always free. In many countries, families pay a portion of the cost. Currently, in Saskatchewan only a small proportion of children receive a meal provided at school and these meals are often of low quality and bring stigma because only the kids identified as “poor” receive those meals.

In several provinces, this is changing, with almost all kids being able access a meal at school. In Atlantic Canada almost all kids can access a meal at school through provincial and federal investment and a “pay-what-you-can” model where families are asked to pay nothing, a part, or the full cost of the meal, depending on their financial situation.

We could have own own similar model in Saskatchewan.

With the threat of massive U.S. tariffs on virtually all Canadian exports, and the prospect of counter-tariffs, including on agricultural products, Canadians are facing another surge in food prices.

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The benefits of locally based school food programs to strengthen local and regional food sources and supply chains needs to be highlighted.

When school food programs are reasonably well-funded, they have an impact on the local agricultural economy — boosting demand for locally supplied agricultural products, as well as creating jobs for suppliers, chefs and food service workers.

Even small communities benefit through the growth of local businesses and food economies.

As all levels of governments, businesses and communities across Canada scramble for effective responses to the looming threat of economic chaos, the reality and potential of the national school food program must not be overlooked.

As a parent with two children attending school here in Saskatoon, and a researcher who works on the benefits of school food it would be such a shame if Saskatchewan is left out of this opportunity if our government does not sign its agreement for funding by Sunday.

Rachel Engler-Stringer, is a professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan.

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