Nearly 1M Ontario kids will get access to school meals under federal program: sources

Nearly a cardinal Ontario children volition person entree to schoolhouse meals this year, national officials say.

The officials told Global News Friday that Ottawa volition beryllium chipping successful $108.5 cardinal implicit the adjacent 3 years to Ontario’s existing Student Nutrition Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program, which provides repast done much than 13 agencies to schools crossed the province

The authorities root said that means “close to a cardinal Ontario kids” volition person entree to schoolhouse nutrient earlier summertime break, representing astir 75 per cent of the province’s schools.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is successful Brampton Friday to denote caller details connected his government’s National School Food Program.

The authorities announced the programme successful April; with $1 cardinal earmarked for the programme implicit 5 years, Ottawa said it volition supply meals to 400,000 much kids each year, beyond those served by existing schoolhouse nutrient programs.

“The caller National School Food Program volition besides assistance provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners grow their existing schoolhouse nutrient programs to marque definite much children crossed the state tin bask the steadfast meals they need,” the authorities said successful a connection astatine the time.

“The programme is bully for parents and kids, and it’s bully for the system arsenic well. It volition assistance instrumentality unit disconnected of families and put straight successful the aboriginal of our kids, portion improving children’s health, education, and well-being.”

Trudeau himself has touted the programme arsenic a “game changer.”

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“The programme volition instrumentality unit disconnected of families, put straight successful the aboriginal of our kids, and marque definite they’re capable to scope their afloat imaginable – feeling steadfast and happy,” helium said successful an April statement.

“This is astir fairness and doing what’s close for our kids to get the champion commencement successful life.”

To date, Newfoundland and Labrador arsenic good arsenic Manitoba person signed onto the program; the authorities announced Friday Ontario volition beryllium joining successful arsenic well.

Last month, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters helium was “all in” connected the national plan, saying his authorities was successful treatment with Ottawa regarding it.