MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 1,
2024 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSX: MFI)
and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security commend the Government
of Canada on their announcement
today to invest $1 billion over the
next five years to establish a National School Food Program.
Working with provinces and territories, this investment will
broaden existing school food programs to reach an additional
400,000 children across Canada.
"Maple Leaf Foods and the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security
are thrilled and thankful that the federal government has acted on
their commitment to create a National School Food Program," said
Sarah Stern, Executive Director of
the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security.
"Food insecurity is at crisis levels in Canada, with one in four children living in a
food insecure home," continued Ms. Stern. "Food security is
fundamental to health and dignity, as well as academic, social and
economic potential. Historically, Canada has been the only G7 country without a
national school food program. This leadership and action on the
part of the federal government addresses this failing and further
strengthens our societal net, so that more children in Canada will have the potential to learn and
succeed."
"This commitment builds on decades of work by tireless advocates
in the food security sector, who have persevered in their work to
see a healthy meal offered in every school. Their vision has been
crucial to realizing this important public policy
milestone."
"We look forward to working with school food experts, the
provinces, territories and federal government to establish a
healthy meal program in every school, which will deliver immediate
benefit to the millions of children and their families struggling
with food insecurity."
"We will continue to work with the federal, provincial and
territorial governments to build on this momentum and take further
steps to reduce food insecurity in Canada. We urge governments to set a target to
reduce food insecurity by 50% by 2030," concluded Ms. Stern.
About the Maple Leaf Centre for
Food Security
Launched in 2016, the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security ("the
Centre") is a registered charity committed to working
collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The Centre advocates
for critical public policies and invests in knowledge building and
programs that advance the capacity of people and communities to
achieve sustainable food security. The Centre has directly funded
more than thirty projects across the country, committing more than
$13 million to increase access to
good food and reduce food insecurity.
About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. ("Maple Leaf Foods") is a carbon neutral
company with a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on
earth, responsibly producing food products under leading brands
including Maple Leaf®, Maple Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural
Selections®, Schneiders®, Schneiders® Country Naturals®, Mina®,
Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®, Lightlife® and Field Roast™. Maple
Leaf Foods employs approximately 13,500 people and does business
in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The company is
headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, and its shares trade on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (MFI).
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SOURCE Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security