This House of Commons committee meeting studied the subject matter of Part 5, including Division 36, of Bill C-15, the budget implementation act, with a focus on the national school food program and student financial aid. Appearing were Judith Barry from the Breakfast Club of Canada, Carolyn Webb from the Coalition for Healthy School Food, Dylan Kirk from the Council of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Schools of Ontario, Bibi Wasiimah Joomun from the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, and Mary Wu from the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Judith Barry urged the committee to adopt Bill C-15 to make the national school food program permanent with sustainable, inflation-indexed funding, citing a cost-benefit analysis showing a $2 socio-economic return for every dollar invested. She recommended that the federal government invest in infrastructure and local procurement, and establish coordination mechanisms across government levels and with civil society and food industry partners to align efforts and avoid duplication.
Carolyn Webb celebrated the tabling of the national school food program act and recommended that the committee pass it quickly, put in place strong mechanisms to monitor and report on the policy's comprehensive implementation in collaboration with provinces and territories, and promote the policy in all public communications. She noted that the program could help families save $2,600 to $3,800 annually in food expenses and create a market for regionally grown food, but stressed that adequate funding is critical for equity of access.
Dylan Kirk asked the committee to report to the House that students in regulated health care programs must be exempt from any cuts to Canada student grants, arguing that the budget's intention to remove grants for private college students would cut off support for approximately 90% of the future workforce in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. He stated that private colleges complement the public system and that nearly 80% of students at his institution rely on financial aid, warning that enrolment would decline and colleges could contract or close.
Bibi Wasiimah Joomun urged the committee to ensure that any legislative changes strengthen access to federal student aid, recommending that the temporary expansion of Canada student grants and loans be made permanent to prevent a projected increase in unmet financial need. She noted that 36% of students skip meals due to cost and that 77% of Canadians would see notable impacts from a $100 weekly income drop, emphasizing that the cuts would hit low-income, indigenous, and disabled students hardest.
Mary Wu requested that the committee ensure continued Canada student grant support for students at private institutions, arguing that the proposed budget measures are discriminatory and would be detrimental to enrolment and the viability of traditional Chinese medicine programs. She noted that enrolment at her institution increased significantly after financial assistance became available and that students are already considering withdrawal due to the uncertainty.
A motion was moved by a Liberal member to study the implementation and long-term permanence of the national school food program, but debate was adjourned after a Conservative member moved to adjourn debate, allowing the committee to proceed with the scheduled witnesses. Some members debated procedural points about the motion's notice and the intent to study it properly.
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