Thank you so very much, Chair Gould, vice-chairs and members of the FINA committee.
On behalf of the Breakfast Club, which I represent as co-founder, I am extremely pleased to be able to present the recommendations that were submitted in February in the brief for the adoption of Bill C‑15, as well as the recommendations of the Breakfast Club's most recent pre-budget 2026 brief.
The club's first recommendation is that the Government of Canada build on the recent adoption of the National School Food Program Act and recognize the program as a budget priority and a strategic investment for today’s families and for future generations.
Despite the impressive milestones achieved since the implementation of the national school food program in 2024, the current federal investment of $200 million per year impacts approximately 10% of the total school population in Canada and represents about 22¢ per student, per day, if universal participation is considered. Recent public statements have underscored that school food is a core value of the Government of Canada and a national priority, yet the above allocation per child, per day doesn't reflect this ambition. We believe the government can strengthen its position so that every school is equitably served by public funding in the years to come.
As shared in the recent BCC, Breakfast Club of Canada, briefs, a new independent cost-benefit analysis conducted by economists at AppEco confirms that for every dollar invested in school breakfast programs, society receives close to two dollars in return. The data clearly indicates that when children start their day nourished, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom and deliver lasting value for society. These returns are driven by three concrete, quantifiable impacts: increased disposable income for families, higher lifetime earnings linked to improved educational attainment, and reduced health care costs due to lower obesity rates. This study confirms that school food is not an expense but a fiscally responsible, socially impactful investment that delivers long-term returns that far outweigh the initial cost.
Across Canada, provinces, territories and municipalities are currently investing close to $400 million annually in school food programs to ensure the long-term sustainability and equitable expansion of these programs. It is essential that the federal government match this level of investment. Such a budget commitment would not only stabilize the school food program's ecosystem, which struggles to meet growing needs, but also maximize the national school food program's reach and impact while supporting families amid growing food affordability pressures.
The Breakfast Club's second recommendation is that the government make the school food infrastructure fund, established in 2024 with a $20-million investment, permanent. The initial investment really accelerated the impact and the implementation of sustainable distribution systems, which allowed the school nutrition ecosystem to access affordable food.
We believe that maintaining the fund and making it permanent will enable the ecosystem to meet the growing demand, while adapting to the challenges related to providing healthy local food at low cost.
The Breakfast Club's third recommendation is that the Government of Canada move forward with its commitment to invest in Canadian-made food in the school food program, prioritizing sustainable and locally sourced food systems that support Canadian producers.
In 2025, the Liberal Party of Canada committed $20 million to ensure that Canadian-made food is systematically offered within school food programs. We believe this investment should be reflected in budget 2026 to act as an intentional lever to connect school food programs with local producers, while promoting fresh, nutritious food in schools across Canada.
In this context, we believe the Breakfast Club of Canada and other operational catalysts can really contribute to helping the federal government achieve its mandate, because there are great partnerships with food industry partners, current influence on the transformation of recipes, and great operating group purchasing models that have been enabled through the years and experience.
Thank you.