National School Food Program Act

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Sections34

• 1Alternative title

  This Act may be cited as the National School Food Program Act.

• 2Definitions

  The following definitions apply in this Act.

• 2[p2]

  Indigenous governing body means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, Indigenous community or Indigenous people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. (corps dirigeant autochtone)

• 2[p3]

  Indigenous peoples has the meaning assigned by the definition aboriginal peoples of Canada in subsection 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982. (peuples autochtones)

• 2[p4]

  Minister means the member or members of the King’s Privy Council for Canada designated under section 3. (ministre)

• 2[p5]

  Program means the National School Food Program. (Programme)

• 3Order designating Minister

  The Governor in Council may, by order, designate one or more members of the King’s Privy Council for Canada to be the Minister or Ministers for the purposes of this Act.

• 4Purpose

  The purpose of this Act is to set out

• 4(a)

  the Government of Canada’s long-term vision for the Program;

• 4(b)

  the Government of Canada’s commitment to maintaining long-term funding for the ongoing implementation and maintenance of the Program; and

• 4(c)

  the principles that guide the Government of Canada’s ongoing investments in the Program.

• 5Declaration

  It is declared that

• 5(a)

  the Government of Canada’s vision is that all children and youth in Canada have access to nutritious food at school, in an inclusive and non-stigmatizing setting that fosters healthy practices, through school food programs that strengthen connections with local food systems, the environment and culture;

• 5(b)

  the Government of Canada’s goal is to maintain the Program in a way that respects the following principles:

• 5(b)(i)

  accessibility,

• 5(b)(ii)

  health promotion,

• 5(b)(iii)

  inclusivity,

• 5(b)(iv)

  flexibility,

• 5(b)(v)

  sustainability, and

• 5(b)(vi)

  accountability;

• 5(c)

  school food programs contribute to improved health outcomes for children and youth, reduced costs for Canadians and a strong Canadian economy;

• 5(d)

  it is important for the Government of Canada to cooperate, collaborate and work in partnership with the provinces, the territories and Indigenous governing bodies in the delivery of school food programs; and

• 5(e)

  First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families are best supported by school food programs that are culturally appropriate and designed and delivered by their communities.

• 6Guiding principles
• 6(1)

  Federal investments respecting the ongoing implementation and maintenance of the Program — as well as the efforts to enter into related agreements with provinces, territories and Indigenous governing bodies — must be guided by the principles set out in paragraph 5(b).

• 6(2)Commitments — Official Languages Act

  Federal investments that are subject to an agreement entered into with a province or territory respecting the Program must be guided by the principles set out in paragraph 5(b) and by the commitments set out in the Official Languages Act.

• 7Funding commitment
• 7(1)

  The Government of Canada commits to maintaining long-term funding for the Program.

• 7(2)Funding agreements

  The funding must be provided through agreements with the provinces, the territories or Indigenous governing bodies.

• 8Report
• 8(1)

  At the end of the first complete fiscal year after the day on which this section comes into force and at the end of each subsequent fiscal year, the Minister must prepare a report that contains

• 8(1)(a)

  a summary of the information in the Minister’s possession and within the Minister’s authority to disclose relating to the federal investments made in respect of the Program during the previous fiscal year; and

• 8(1)(b)

  a summary of the progress that has been made in respect of the Program, including with respect to the principles set out in paragraph 5(b).

• 8(2)Tabling

  The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the report is completed.