Press releases
SOM poll: Quebecers call for a strong commitment to school feeding
June 4, 2026
With elections just a few months away, La Cantine pour tous calls on political parties to make school food a national priority
Montreal, June 4, 2026 - As the Forum Feeding the future xZQTGM0001QZX is launching a clear appeal to all political parties: make school food a national priority and commit to concrete measures to make school meals accessible to all families.
According to a survey of 1,060 Quebecers conducted by SOM, 88% think it's important for the government to ensure that all children have access to a healthy school lunch at elementary school. What's more, 85% are in favor of a program that allows parents to pay according to their means.
What the SOM survey reveals:
- 88% of Quebecers think it's important for the government to ensure that all children have access to a healthy school lunch at elementary school;
- 72% believe that access to healthy school meals should be an important priority in the next provincial election;
- 85% are in favor of a program allowing parents to pay for school meals according to their means;
- 60% prefer a flexible contribution model based on family income, compared with 21% who prefer universal free contributions and 14% who prefer a market-price model
"The results show that school nutrition is an issue that reaches far beyond families with children in elementary school. What's more, the level of support for the school lunch program is high among all segments of the Quebec population," points out Vincent Bouchard, Vice President Marketing and Partner at SOM.
"The results are unequivocal. Quebecers want school food to be a government priority. With elections just a few months away, we call on all parties to make a clear commitment so that every child can have access to a healthy meal at school," says Thibaud Liné, General Manager of La Cantine pour tous.
"School meals are a unifying, concrete and profoundly human measure. Investing in access to school meals means investing in educational success, children's health and support for families," he adds.
The survey also shows that the approach developed by La Cantine pour tous is in line with the population's preferences. Six out of ten Quebecers prefer a model where families' contributions vary according to their ability to pay, compared with 21% who favor universal free access and 14% who opt for a market-price model.
This stance comes at a time when several players in the field are meeting at the Forum Feeding the future to reflect on the future of school food in Quebec and Canada.
At the Forum, La Cantine pour tous presents its model developed in Quebec: a universal, non-stigmatizing approach based on voluntary contributions according to family means. This model enables all children to eat together in dignity, regardless of their household's financial situation.
"When we adapt the contribution to the reality of families, we reduce financial obstacles while preserving everyone's dignity. It's an approach that encourages participation, and one that has been proving its worth in the field for nearly ten years now," adds Thibaud Liné.
For La Cantine pour tous, school food is much more than a meal: it's a structuring lever to support children, families and communities, while strengthening a network of social economy organizations that prepare meals throughout Quebec.
"Rarely have we seen such strong support for a social measure. The results show that the Quebec population is ready to support concrete solutions to improve access to school meals. Decision-makers now have a clear signal to take action," says Benoist De Peyrelongue, Chairman of the Board of La Cantine pour tous.
About the survey
The web survey was conducted by SOM from April 9 to 14, with 1,060 Quebec respondents. Data was weighted to ensure representativeness by age, gender, education, mother tongue, household size and region of residence.
About La Cantine pour tous
La Cantine pour tous exists because food should never be a privilege. We believe that healthy, accessible Manager food should be possible for everyone, everywhere in Quebec.
La Cantine pour tous brings together NPOs offering food solutions within a social economy collective.
Together, we offer affordable meals. We deploy programs in elementary school and at home, adapted to the needs of people in vulnerable situations.
Today, the organization is experiencing significant growth and is supported by the Quebec government and its partners in health and education, who are committed to its development. La Cantine pour tous aspires to become a model of accessibility to food security.
Information and interview requests
Chloé Plénet, Communications Manager
La Cantine pour tous
