Good morning, Honourable Wayne Easter and committee members.
I am Kristy Taylor. I'm here on behalf of Show Kids You Care. We're a national non-profit organization that provides meals for kids living in difficult situations in Canada. We are one of more than 40 members of the Coalition for Healthy School Food, which is coordinated by Food Secure Canada.
Approximately 20% of students in Canada receive a meal or a snack at school. There's a patchwork of organizations that help fund and run these community-based programs, but there is so much more that needs to be done. Evidence shows that school food programs would increase children's consumption of healthy foods, reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve their mental health, improve educational outcomes and graduation rates, create jobs and grow local economies.
A national school food program has been recommended by the Senate Social Affairs committee, a former House Finance committee, the Ontario Healthy Kids panel, the former chief public health officer, and in Senator Art Eggleton's June Senate Motion No. 358.
Today we are asking your government to invest $360 million in your next budget to partner with key stakeholders in funding a cost-shared program estimated at $1.8 billion. Your support will make an immediate and long-lasting impact on children.
Thank you.