Healthy meals for kids, savings for families in British Columbia for 2025

Government of Canada and BC Launch Healthy School Meals Program

The governments of Canada and British Columbia have created a program to provide healthy meals to kids throughout the school year. Through this program they save working families hundreds of dollars in grocery bills. They also support local economies, farmers and producers by sourcing food grown locally, whenever possible.

Major Funding Agreement to Feed 90,000 BC Students

On March 7, 2025, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and the Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia’s Minister of Education and Child Care, announced an agreement that will enable British Columbia to enhance National school food programs for 90,000 kids in just over 1,000 schools across the province this school year. With this agreement, families in British Columbia with two children in school can save an estimated $800 in grocery bills a year on average.

Healthy Meals Improve Learning and Support Local Farmers

“When kids are hungry, they can’t focus—it’s that simple. That’s why we’re making sure more kids in BC get healthy meals at school, with food grown right here in Canada whenever possible. It helps parents save hundreds on groceries, aims to support local farmers and local economies, and most importantly, makes sure kids have the fuel they need to learn—because no child should have to get through the school day on an empty stomach.” – The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

National School Food Program: A Direct Investment in Families

Our National School Food Program is a direct investment into the middle class—helping teachers and making mornings a little easier for working families. It is also a safety net for the kids who need this support the most.

As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada will invest approximately $39.4 million over the next three years to enhance school food programs in the province to feed more kids, including in rural and remote areas. This investment will mean important improvements to school food programs, such as increasing the number of students served, purchasing much-needed school kitchen equipment, and increasing the nutrition of school meals, which will provide more inclusive menu options that take into account dietary restrictions and cultural preferences.

Boosting Local Economies Through School Food Programs

Now more than ever, families are choosing to eat local, and this is reflected in BC’s school food programming, which aims to build strong community partnerships with local growers and food producers to see more BC food in schools, ultimately investing back in local economic growth, where possible. Building a national school food program is part of the federal government’s commitment to help make life more affordable for families across the country. 

Investing in the Future of Canadian Students

“This is a big step forward in making sure kids right across the country have the food they need to succeed in school. Through this partnership with the Government of British Columbia, we’re investing in our children’s future—serving up healthy, local meals so they can learn and grow.” – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

To help your school get a school lunch program advocate at the school level through your PAC, school board, and with the provincial government. The resources are there to ensure every child has access to healthy meals.  

Quick facts

• British Columbia is the latest to join forces with the Government of Canada to ensure children have access to nutritious school meals. They will continue working with all provinces, territories, Indigenous partners and stakeholders to ensure every child in Canada has the food they need to reach their full potential.

• Budget 2024’s investment of $1 billion over five years includes distinctions-based funding for First Nations on reserves as well as Inuit, Métis and modern treaty and self-government agreement holders. We are working directly with Indigenous partners on the rollout of that funding, with more information to come.

• In addition to the National School Food Program, the federal government launched the new School Food Infrastructure Fund in September. The Fund will deliver over $20 million to help not-for-profit organizations invest in infrastructure and equipment to support school food programming across Canada.

• In 2023, the Ministry of Education and Child Care of British Columbia allocated $71.5 million annually in dedicated, multi-year funding to school districts to create and expand school food programs in schools.

• This initiative, known as Feeding Futures, aims to provide students with stigma- free access to nutritious, locally sourced food, enhancing their learning outcomes and fostering stronger connections with their school communities.