Youth gather to promote food programs in wake of high food insecurity

School food programs will be in focus today as a nationwide campaign makes its first stop in Halifax.

The Coalition for Healthy School Food, with support from Nourish Nova Scotia, is holding a youth-led rally at the Halifax Central Library.

The campaign, which will include rallies across the country, aims to promote action and advocacy for universal, sustainable school food programs. The coalition says all 13 provinces and territories have now signed on to the federal government’s national school food program, creating a clear roadmap to expand services.

It is urging the federal government to legislate the national program and increase long-term investments to ensure universal access.

Today’s rally is scheduled for noon on the front steps of the Halifax Central Library.

Staggering data

The provincial government noted that in 2022 just under half (40.1 per cent) of children in Nova Scotia were living in food-insecure households. This represents 71,000 kids and is the second highest rate in Canada.

The report, which came out in December 2024, details the staggering number of children going hungry in the province. It is more prevalent in rural communities, as one-third of postal areas reported poverty rates of 30 per cent or higher, with 66.7 per cent being the highest in North Preston.

“Higher child poverty rates in certain areas of urban Nova Scotia are
disguised,” the report reads.

As an example, it says that within Halifax rates range from 17.6 per cent (Bedford) to a high of 41.9 per cent (Spryfield) and 41 per cent downtown.

The children in most need are those of immigrants or Indigenous families who have higher rates of poverty.