In a conference room packed with food security advocates and policy wonks, Josh Smee couldn’t hide his enthusiasm. The CEO of Food First NL has spent years lobbying for national action on food insecurity, and Budget 2025 finally delivered a partial victory.
“This is a meaningful step forward,” Smee told me during our conversation at their St. John’s headquarters. “The national school food program represents the kind of structural approach we’ve been pushing for.”
The federal government’s commitment of $1.5 billion over five years to establish Canada’s first national school food program has been hailed as a watershed moment by food security organizations across the country. The program aims to provide nutritious meals to thousands of schoolchildren, addressing a critical gap in Canada’s social safety net.
But for communities like those scattered across Newfoundland and Labrador’s coast, where food costs can run 40% higher than urban centers, the celebration comes with caution.
“Look at the numbers,” says Smee, pointing to Statistics Canada data showing that nearly one in six Canadian households experienced food insecurity in 2023. “School meals tackle one piece of a much larger puzzle.”
Food insecurity—limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate foods—has become an increasingly visible crisis in Canada. The problem extends far beyond empty refrigerators, affecting health outcomes, educational achievement, and workforce productivity.
The Budget 2025 allocation translates to roughly $300 million annually—significant, but falling short of the $2.7 billion that advocates from the Coalition for Healthy School Food had recommended for comprehensive coverage. The program will roll out first in provinces with existing infrastructure before expanding nationally.
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay defended the phased approach when I caught up with him following a committee meeting. “We’re building something sustainable here, not just making announcements,” MacAulay said. “The foundation needs to be solid before we expand.”
Critics argue the timeline leaves too many vulnerable children waiting. NDP food security critic Leah Gazan didn’t mince words when I spoke with her by phone from her Winnipeg riding.
“Children are hungry today,” Gazan emphasized. “While the Liberals take victory laps, families are still choosing between paying rent or buying groceries. This program is welcome but insufficient.”
The tensions reflect broader debates about Canada’s approach to food security. While the government has emphasized targeted programs, many advocates push for more fundamental reforms addressing poverty’s root causes.
“School food programs work best as part of a comprehensive strategy,” explains Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, principal investigator with PROOF, a research team studying food insecurity. “They complement—but don’t replace—adequate income supports and affordable housing policies.”
Beyond schools, Budget 2025 contained more modest provisions for food security: $85 million for Northern and Indigenous food systems and $40 million to expand community food initiatives. The amounts fall significantly short of what organizations like Food Banks Canada had requested.
In communities like Nain, Labrador, where a carton of eggs can cost $7 and fresh vegetables are luxury items during winter months, these investments matter intensely. During my visit there last autumn, community leaders described how traditional food systems—hunting, fishing, gathering—increasingly strain under climate pressures and economic constraints.
“We’re seeing traditional knowledge at risk while store foods remain unaffordable,” Sarah Abel, a local food security coordinator, told me during that visit. “Programs that connect our youth with the land while ensuring basic nutrition are essential.”
The federal approach reflects competing political considerations. Conservative critics argue that inflation-fighting economic policies would naturally improve food affordability. Meanwhile, progressive voices maintain that market solutions alone cannot address structural inequities in the food system.
Budget 2025 also continues funding for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, which has supported community gardens, food banks, and small-scale processing facilities since 2019. These projects have shown promise in building local resilience but often struggle with long-term sustainability once federal funding ends.
For Smee and other advocates, the key missing piece remains a comprehensive national food policy with accountability mechanisms and clear benchmarks.
“Other countries track food insecurity as a key metric of social well-being,” Smee notes. “We need similar commitments here, with regular reporting to Parliament on our progress.”
As I left Food First NL’s offices, Smee was already preparing for the next advocacy push. On his desk sat briefing notes for upcoming consultations on the promised Canada Disability Benefit, which could significantly impact food security for persons with disabilities.
“Budget victories are important milestones,” he reflected, “but the real work happens between announcements, in communities where people are finding creative ways to feed each other.”
For millions of Canadians navigating rising food costs, that creativity has become a necessity rather than a virtue—something Budget 2025 acknowledges but doesn’t fully address.
