Ontario School Meals Program Receives $108M Federal Funding Over Three Years
Federal Government Invests $108.5M to Expand Ontario School Meals Program
The federal government is allocating $108.5 million over three years to provide more free school meals to children in Ontario through the National School Food Program.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Ontario has become the third province to join the initiative, following Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador. The funding aims to reduce costs related to food transportation, storage, and preparation equipment, enabling the delivery of healthy meals to 160,000 additional students this school year.
“This is a huge agreement with Ontario that will set the bar for the rest of the country,” Trudeau said during the announcement in Brampton, Ont. He emphasized the importance of nutrition for student success, noting that hunger impacts children’s ability to focus and learn effectively.
Two senior government officials revealed ahead of the announcement that nearly one million Ontario children—almost 75% of the province’s students—will have access to school food programs by the end of the school year. Currently, more than 600,000 children benefit annually from Ontario’s existing Student Nutrition Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program. The federal funding will boost that figure to over 760,000 children, with 9.8 million additional meals served, including 130,000 more meals in Indigenous communities.
“This program makes a real difference – not just for kids but for families – by ensuring healthy meals are within reach and easing grocery bill burdens for parents,” said Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu.
First announced in April, the National School Food Program is backed by $1 billion over five years, with the goal of providing meals to 400,000 more children annually across Canada. Trudeau has called the initiative a “game changer” for families and children.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford welcomed the investment, saying, “We’re going to work hand in hand with the federal government to make sure kids don’t go to school hungry.”
However, the Conservative Party criticized the program’s scope, arguing it covers just 7.7% of the over two million students in Ontario. Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri called the announcement “a photo op promise” that prioritizes bureaucracy over feeding children.
Despite the criticism, supporters of the program highlight its potential to improve educational outcomes and reduce financial pressures for families across the province.
