Course:LFS250/Week 24
Overview
In this session, we will discuss the role of policy in shaping school food environments in Canada, British Columbia, and in Vancouver. These include policies that regulate (or support) activities like school gardens, what is formally taught in schools (nutrition education, for example), what food is available for students to consume in schools, and composting.
- ONE PRESENTATION in tutorial
Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
- Describe the federal, provincial, and regional policies that govern school food systems
- Articulate the impacts of food-related policy on school food procurement
- Discuss the potential power that exists in public procurement of food for creating positive food system change
Key Terms + Concepts
- Food policy
- Institutional procurement
Required Readings + Resources
- Morgan, K., & Sonnino, R. (2010). Rethinking school food: the power of the public plate. State of the World, 74.
Unlike all the other nations in the G8, Canada’s education system is decentralised. Under the Canadian Constitution, provincial governments have exclusive responsibility for all levels of education. There is no ministry or department of education at the federal level (http://cicic.ca/1301/Ministries-Departments-responsible-for-education-in-Canada/index.canada). The federal government provides each province a large portion of the funds to each province to operate an education system.
This means that there are no federal food policies particular to schools. However, international trade agreements negotiated at the federal level, like the North American Free Trade Agreement, do indeed impact “public procurement”, the purchase of goods and services by any and all public institutions, like schools. All provincial governments, by law, must honour these international agreements.
In British Columbia, as part of the education funding transfer payments received by the federal government, there are funds that are meant to address the needs of vulnerable students (eg. students with disabilities or students experiencing food insecurity, etc). The BC Ministry of Health calls these funds “CommunityLink Funds” that are dispersed to each school district. Each school district determines how the funds will be dispersed and who they will benefit. In Vancouver, the Vancouver School Board has a means to classify schools that reflects level of student vulnerability. While a vulnerable school receives funds to support multiple supportive initiatives, relevant here is the funds that provide subsidised school lunches.
To-date the aim of providing subsidised school lunches in Vancouver has been to feed as many children as many calories as possible at the cheapest price.The free lunches provided have not been subjected to any nutrition standards in the past but currently efforts are being made by the school district and the regional health authority to ensure the subsidised lunches are meeting the same regulations imposed on the non-free food items available in schools by the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools.
Another exciting initiative that is occurring is that the school board is working with a number of external community and industry partners in an attempt to improve procurement policies. School food service staff have been calling for access to more local, seasonal, and sustainable food to provide the students. Also unique to Vancouver public schools are policies in place that support the creation of school gardens and the city-wide composting laws that have recently been implemented.
In lecture, we will discuss the "Power of the Public Plate". That is, can institutions that purchase large volumes of food shift regional food system change by creating procurement policy that requires serving more healthy, nutritious and just food?
Tutorial Session
In your tutorial session, one group will be responsible for presenting and facilitating a discussion on the week’s readings. See course assignment description for presentation requirements.
Additional Material
- WEBSITE - VSB’s School food procurement policies and relevant trade agreements (peruse the policies with links at the bottom of the page)