At a time when Quebec is forcing School Service Centres to cut their budgets, the CAQ government is delaying signing an agreement with the federal government that would enable the Quebec school network to get its hands on $11.6 million under the National School Feeding Program.

Launched in 2024, the Government of Canada's National School Feeding Program aims to ensure that 400,000 Canadian children facing food insecurity have access to nutritious meals at school.

The Government of Canada has committed $1 billion in federal funding over five years as part of Budget 2024 to develop a national school feeding program. 

In Quebec, $11.6 million has been earmarked for the current school year alone.   

“Given that Quebec already has a school food program, I was hoping that an agreement would be reached quickly to offer additional support to children in need, both in Vaudreuil-Soulanges and across the province. However, while other provinces have moved forward - Newfoundland (September 2024), Manitoba (October 2024) and Ontario (November 2024) - Quebec has yet to finalize an agreement, which means that local students have yet to receive any of the $11.6 million allocated to Quebec for this school year alone,” lamented Vaudreuil MP Peter Schiefke.

Questioned on the subject, Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard assures us that discussions between Education Minister Bernard Drainville and the federal government are continuing, and that she hopes for a swift resolution.  

“Negotiations are still underway with the federal government to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement that respects Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction over education. The Ministère de l'Éducation is working hard to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion in order to obtain its fair share of the amounts owed to it. Quebec is continuing negotiations to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We cannot comment on the status of the negotiations,” explains Bryan St-Louis, press relations officer at the Ministère de l'Éducation, by e-mail.

The Quebec government's school food program

In 2024-2025, $65.1 million was earmarked for food aid in the province's schools. Of this amount, $44.1 million was allocated through a budgetary measure, enabling 711,315 students to benefit from food aid in 2,232 schools for the 2023-2024 year.

The Club des petits déjeuners received $15 million, enabling it to serve 1.7 million meals in 461 schools. La Cantine pour tous received $5.4 million and served at least one meal to 12,559 students in 106 schools. 

At the Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs, $275,000 has been redistributed to the territory's schools for the current school year.

“Redistribution is based on the number of students, but also on the low-income cut-off index. For example, a school in a disadvantaged area will receive more money than a school in a more privileged area, for the same number of students. How the money is spent is at the discretion of each school and is determined according to their reality. For example, some schools will offer breakfasts, while others will opt for snacks,” explains Alexandra Desrochers, coordinator of the CSSTL General Secretariat and Communications Department.

As to how many children and schools have benefited from the program, the CSSTL was unable to provide the information.

“My priority and that of the Government of Canada is, and always will be, the well-being of children. Every child deserves to go to school with access to a nutritious meal, and we are committed to working with Quebec to ensure that these funds reach the students who need them most. I remain optimistic that an agreement will be reached soon, so that no child has to face another school day without a healthy meal,” concludes Peter Schiefke.