QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
National School Food Policy
April 9, 2024
Senator Gold, Prime Minister Trudeau recently made a number of announcements that directly affect provincial jurisdictions, particularly in the area of housing. These proposals are in addition to others, including in health care, which prompted Quebec to tell the federal government to mind its own business. I realize that most people aren’t too concerned about the division of powers. They just want programs that meet their needs. However, these issues are essential to our constitutional order. They can seriously aggravate federal‑provincial relations.
One of those announcements was about a new federal school food program, with $1 billion in funding over five years. After the first five years of funding, how will this program continue to operate? Will this expense be transferred to the provinces, which have exclusive jurisdiction over education but probably don’t have the funds to take over?
Thank you for the question. The announcement that you mentioned is very important, because close to one out of every four children in Canada does not have enough to eat, which hurts their chances at school and elsewhere. The program you mentioned is important for Canadians, as is the case in many areas, senator. The federal government must work closely with the provinces and territories to resolve problems in this particular area since there is a shared responsibility, especially because of the federal funding and the constitutional jurisdictions of the provinces and territories. I’m confident that the Government of Canada will continue to work with the provinces and territories to meet the needs of Canadians and ensure that agreements are reached to better serve children who need food.
I want you to know that I have no problem with the program. What I’m worried about is whether it is sustainable.
Prime Minister Trudeau also wants to create a Canadian renters’ bill of rights, and the Government of Quebec is certainly up in arms about that. This doesn’t even have anything to do with money for housing construction. The Legault government has already rejected the idea of such a public registry. Is it really the central government’s constitutional job to create this kind of bill of rights?
That’s a good question, a legitimate question. The answer will depend on the details of the bill of rights and the consequences for those who violate its tenets. The details are as yet unknown. The federal government has to play a leadership role. This isn’t necessarily about constitutional powers. Once we have more details about the bill of rights, I’ll be in a better position to answer your question.
