Report: The Economic Rationale for Investing in School Meal Programs for Canada: multi-sectoral impacts from comparable high-income countries

Report Summary

In 2023, the Arrell Family Foundation contracted Ruetz Consulting to prepare the report,  The Economic Rationale for Investing in School Meal Programs for Canada: multi-sectoral impacts from comparable high-income countries. The purpose of the report was to present a robust evidence base to assist the Government of Canada to fulfil the Liberal Party’s 2021 election promise of $1 billion over five years towards school food programs. Overall, universal free school meals have been shown to provide a 2.5x – 7x return in a range of human health and economic benefits in comparable high-income countries. Specifically, these benefits include how school meal programs can: 

• improve education, health outcomes and food security;
• increase students’ lifetime earnings;
• reduce social inequalities;
• increase maternal workforce participation;
• create jobs and strengthen local food systems;
• strengthen Indigenous communities;
• and provide immediate relief to household budgets.

A national school food program would join Canada’s universal childcare and the Canada Child Benefit as a crucial social support, bringing immediate relief to families while also contributing to long-term economic, health, and social benefits. A $200 million investment would be a fraction of the federal government’s current expenditures and would provide immediate relief to families while building a legacy of improved public health and economic prosperity for generations to come. Our nation’s children are only 20% of our population but 100% of our future. An investment in a national school food program today is an investment in a stronger Canada tomorrow.