It's not up to the federal government to help out children who don't have enough to eat, Industry Minister James Moore said in Vancouver.

Speaking to a Vancouver radio station Friday, Moore said British Columbia's child poverty rates aren't the responsibility of the federal government, and it won't "usurp" the province.

"Is it the government's job — my job to feed my neighbour's children? I don't think so," Moore said.

"Obviously nobody wants kids to go to school hungry..., but is that always the government's job? To be there to serve people their breakfast? Empowering families with more power and resources so they can feed their own children is I think a good thing," he said.

Moore said prosperity is up in Canada and unemployment is down.

Moore was asked about child poverty rates in the province and children going to school hungry.