Bill C-212: An Act to develop a national school food program for children

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the School Food Program for Children Act . School Food Program for Children Program development 2 The Minister of Health must, in consultation with the representatives of the provincial governments respon­ sible for health and education and with other relevant stakeholders in those fields, develop a school food program to ensure that all children in Canada have access to healthy food. The program must, among other things, (a) set out the criteria for determining whether a food is healthy, taking into account Canada’s Food Guide; (b) include an assessment of whether the federal government should establish a grant program to fund the school food program and provide for cost-sharing arrangements with the provinces to ensure that the school food program is established and operates at little or no direct cost to children or their families; (c) build on existing school food programs across Canada and use best practices from other jurisdictions; and (d) promote evidence-based healthy food education in schools across Canada. Report and Publication Report to Parliament 3 (1) Within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister of Health must prepare a report setting out the school food program and cause the report to be tabled before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication of report (2) The Minister must post the report on the website of the Department of Health within 10 days after the report has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Review and Report Review and report 4 (1) Within five years after the tabling of the report referred to in section 3, the Minister of Health must undertake a review of the effectiveness of the program and prepare a report setting out his or her conclusions and recommendations regarding the program, and cause the report to be tabled before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication of report (2) The Minister must post the report on the website of the Department of Health within 10 days after the report has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament.