June 16, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Today, the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), announced that provinces and territories have finalized their National School Food Program action plans for 2025-26 and 2026-27. These plans outline how provinces and territories are using the National School Food Program funding to enhance and expand school food programs across Canada in alignment with the National School Food Policy.
The National School Food Program is providing meals to up to 400,000 more kids every year. With these plans, total federal funding for provinces and territories has doubled from the 2024-25 fiscal year to $140 million, marking a major step forward in ensuring that more children have access to nutritious food at school, and that local farmers and local economies contribute to this.
With support from the National School Food Program and provincial and territorial (PT) investments, more than 10,000 schools-approximately 80% of PT-operated schools in Canada-are offering school food programs this school year.
The Government of Canada will continue working collaboratively with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners over the coming years, building on existing efforts to enhance and expand school food programs across the country. This, along with other commitments to build more homes, expand affordable dental care, tackle food insecurity, protect affordable child care, and grow the economy, is part of the federal government's plan to lower costs for Canadians and build Canada strong.
