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House Hansard - 251

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 20, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 251 - Nov/20/23
Ms. Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre, NDP)
  • Nov/20/23 2:01:32 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, National Child Day is a time to recommit to improve the collective well-being of children and ensure their human rights are upheld. I was proud to co-host a breakfast on the Hill this morning in partnership with Breakfast Club of Canada, and I want to acknowledge Cloe Steffen, who is in the gallery on behalf of Breakfast Club of Canada today. This year's focus is to call on the federal government to implement a national school meal program. The Liberal government promised to implement one in 2019. Four years later, Canada remains the only G7 country without a national school food program. In a country as wealthy as Canada, this is unacceptable. No child should ever be forced to attend class on an empty stomach. Today, on National Child Day, I urge the government to keep its promise and fund a national school meal program so children can have the healthy food they need to thrive.
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Context: House Hansard - 251 - Nov/20/23
Hon. Mona Fortier (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.)
  • Nov/20/23 2:06:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today we are celebrating National Child Day following the adoption in 1991 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I would like to raise an important issue that residents of Ottawa—Vanier consider a priority. I am referring to the fundamental right of every child in Canada to a healthy diet. On this day dedicated to the well-being of our youngest constituents, let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that no child in Canada goes to school hungry. I invite and encourage my colleagues to work together on developing a national school nutrition program in co-operation with our provincial, territorial, municipal, indigenous and private sector partners to come up with a practical solution to the pressing food security problem confronting Canadian families. I am very grateful to the Breakfast Club for organizing this morning's breakfast on the Hill and for defending every child's right to food.
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