Quebec school meal initiatives target student food insecurity

New initiatives are being introduced in Quebec to address student food insecurity through school meal programs. In Rimouski, Moisson Rimouski-Neigette will launch the ‘La Cantine dans les écoles’ service at L’Aquarelle elementary school starting in late September. This program offers healthy, nutritious meals at a social pricing model, where parents pay based on income, starting as low as $1. The meals are prepared in the food bank's kitchens and delivered daily.

On a provincial political level, the party Québec solidaire has proposed a universal school nutrition program to be implemented gradually through 2031. Announced by Ruba Ghazal, the proposed plan aims to provide healthy, local meals to all primary and secondary students. The voluntary program would involve a contribution between $0 and $7 and is estimated to cost $480 million annually. The initiative seeks to improve academic success and reduce the financial and mental burden on parents.