Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s NDP government is set to become the second province to sign up for part of the $1 billion federal school lunch program.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Social Development Minister Jenna Suds joined the premier Friday morning to announce more than $17 million in additional federal funding over the next three years, on top of the $30 million the province has already budgeted. We plan to announce additional agreements. Universal school nutrition program. ”
Despite its name, the Manitoba program, which launched on Sept. 5, has yet to fully take off. It connects and complements what had been a patchwork of meal and snack programs across Manitoba’s 37 school districts. The state government has set aside $6 million for 50 schools in areas identified as “high socio-economic need.”
Suds said the first $3.8 million in federal funding this school year will go to high-need areas and will help feed an estimated 19,000 children who do not have access to school breakfast, lunch and snack programs. said.
“Now parents don’t have to worry about that and kids can focus on being kids, right? And learning,” the minister told CBC News ahead of Friday’s official announcement. told.
Suds said most of the money will be used to buy food. However, schools can also use federal funds to purchase equipment such as refrigerators and toasters, or to renovate school kitchen equipment. It could also cover the cost of hiring more people.
One of the federal conditions for this funding is that there is no reduction in state investment as a result.
“We want to see sustained, if not increased, long-term growth. This is a commitment that the Manitoba government has been very transparent and willing to make,” Suds said. .
Programs vary by school and region
Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province to sign up for federal funding on September 4. The federal government’s discussions with British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have been put on hold as these three provinces are in the midst of election campaigns.
of National school lunch policy A report released by the Suds department earlier this year provides general criteria for the types of school lunch and snack programs that can receive federal funding, but does not set specific requirements.
The policy states that programs must be “universally accessible” and “culturally appropriate.” It also includes language that prioritizes “local food sources” and “sustainability,” but individual communities are free to define what that means for their children.
Federal policy states that food provided must meet federal nutritional guidelines, and participating states are required to report implementation plans and results to the federal government.
“Ultimately, it will be up to the state and school board to decide what the local food system priorities are,” Suds said. “Each state is unique, and each community is unique.”
Unlike the U.S. School Lunch Program (which falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has supported subsidies to U.S. farmers for decades), federal policy does not include providing schools with food from local supply chains. There is nothing that requires you to do so. Suds said she wants to connect what the school provides to students with what it teaches about food grown, caught and processed in the community.
Parents and advocates are calling on the state government to speed up negotiations to join the new federal school lunch program announced earlier this year. The plan would provide $1 billion over five years for school meals nationwide, but so far only Newfoundland and Labrador has signed on.
Manitoba’s NDP government and Newfoundland and Labrador’s Liberal government are “aligned” with the federal government’s vision, Suds said.
He also acknowledged that some states are “more difficult to deal with than others.” That doesn’t mean it won’t be possible to reach a deal with a conservative-leaning government in the coming months, Suds added.
“Just recently, [Ontario] “Premier Ford has shown real enthusiasm and is talking about joining the National School Lunch Program,” she said.
Another effort is underway to reach an agreement with First Nations governments that would allocate a portion of federal funds to schools outside of the provincial education system.
Federal Conservative Party is negative, future uncertain
Suds said he expects more agreements with additional jurisdictions to be reached during this year. She may be running out of time.
Ottawa’s minority parliament poses a dangerous situation for the Liberals. Even if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government survives the upcoming vote of confidence, the next federal election date will be set in the fall of 2025.
All new agreements signed with provinces or territories will help strengthen school meal programs as part of Canada’s social safety net. If all jurisdictions across Canada sign up, $1 billion allocated in the 2024 federal budget to be rolled out over the next five years will help up to 400,000 school children who currently lack access to school-provided food. It may be possible to provide food.
“This shouldn’t be political, right?” Suds said. “We are hearing in the House of Commons [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poièvre calls this “bureaucracy.” And I have to say how incredibly frustrating it is to hear someone call providing food for children “bureaucracy.” ”
Poilievre dismissed the program as “costing millions of dollars and not feeding a single meal.” He has also frequently attacked the federal Liberal Party over the cost of groceries and increased use of food banks. Conservatives voted against the bill in December last year. Individual member invoice This would have established a national framework for school feeding programs.
“I feel a sense of urgency every day to make sure we get this done,” Suds said. “I’m also very concerned about what the federal Conservative government will do.”
Asked how this urgency coincided with this week’s announcement that four of his cabinet colleagues would not run again, Mr Suds said: “To be honest, I’m fully focused.” said.
When asked if he would run again, Suds replied, “Of course I will.”
