National

Liberals plan talks to launch school food program before end of next school year

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Jun, 2024 11:15 AM

Families Minister Jenna Sudds says the government hopes to see kids getting meals from the national school food program before the end of the next school year, but it will take time for organizations to scale up their operations.

The Liberals set aside $1 billion over five years for the program, which they promised during the 2021 election campaign.

Sudds says the deals will be similar in nature to the child-care agreements the government signed with provinces and territories to lower the cost of daycare.

Our National School Food Policy is an important stepping stone in ensuring that children don’t have to learn on an empty stomach. 🍏🍎

Here’s what you need to know! pic.twitter.com/d1QiFpMk5e
— Jenna Sudds (@JennaSudds) June 20, 2024

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new policy that will guide those negotiations at a press conference in Nova Scotia today.

The school food program will largely rely on existing organizations that already feed kids, and it's aimed at eliminating stigma.

Sudds says that means lunch, breakfast or snack programs should be available to all the children in a school.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Boosting GST rebate appropriate: experts

After months of mounting political pressure from the NDP to help low- and modest-income Canadians facing a rising cost of living, the federal government officially announced on Tuesday it will double the GST rebate for six months. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced the federal government will expand eligibility for the one-time top-up of $500 for the Canada Housing Benefit available to renters.

Boosting GST rebate appropriate: experts

Long lineup in London as queen lies in state

Equipped with sleeping bags, books and backpacks of food, they formed a queue that was nearly four kilometres long as of 6 p.m. local time. With Westminster Palace silhouetted across the river, people waited patiently as the line wound its way past the London Eye and across Lambeth Bridge.

Long lineup in London as queen lies in state

Northeast B.C., blaze scanned to confirm perimeter

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the scan was done late Tuesday. It will also be used to identify hot spots on the east flank of the 287-square kilometre wildfire, nearest to the W.A.C. Bennet Dam and the evacuated community of Hudson's Hope.

Northeast B.C., blaze scanned to confirm perimeter

Man fatally shot in Burnaby, B.C., attack

A statement from Burnaby RCMP says the attack happened just after 11 p.m. Tuesday along a busy stretch of Hastings Street near Confederation Park. The unnamed victim died at the scene.

Man fatally shot in Burnaby, B.C., attack

Reward doubled to $500K for B.C. gondola vandalism

It comes as RCMP reveal more details about their investigation and share a photo of a suspect who may have been responsible for cutting the cable on the Sea to Sky Gondola twice, in 2019 and 2020.

Reward doubled to $500K for B.C. gondola vandalism

Schools not to blame for high COVID rates: doctor

Dr. Bonnie Henry has been criticized by some parents, advocacy groups and health-care professionals who say a major jump in infections occurred during the school year among children under age 10.