Nova Scotia’s long-awaited school meals program will begin in September for children up to grade 5 and the government assures it will be affordable for everyone even if it has not yet set a price.
Education Minister Becky Druhan said Tuesday that 256 schools have been selected for the first phase of the program and the cost of lunch for families will vary depending on family income.
It will be affordable for everyone and we know that for some, that means it will be free.
Lindsay Corbin is relieved to hear this from the minister because she knows that many families are struggling to make ends meet at the moment.
We know the cost of living is currently a real challenge for many Nova Scotians
notes the coordinator of Nourish Nova Scotia, a Nova Scotia organization that campaigns for healthy school food.
$ and 190$ per child per month.”,”text”:”We have evidence that shows that if children go to school and have access to the breakfast and lunch program, it can help families save between $130 $ and $190 per child per month.”}}”>We have evidence that shows that if children go to school and have access to the breakfast and lunch program, it can help families save between $130 and $190 per child per month.
The minister explains that the lunch program will first target younger students, as it has been proven that they benefit the most from healthy meals. She adds that the plan is to expand the program to all students as quickly as possible.
Schools in the first phase of the program received suggested models for how to provide these lunches whether prepared in-house or outsourced. The minister says her ministry also works with nutritionists on menu planning to ensure that meals will be healthy, but also delicious and attractive for children
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Becky Druhan, Nova Scotia Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Photo: CBC / Robert Short
But Becky Druhan is unable to provide an update on public school food and nutrition policy, which has not been updated since 2006.
In a 2022 report, Nova Scotia Auditor General Kim Adair said the policy, based on Canada’s 1992 Food Guide, was outdated.
Minister Druhan says teams are working on it, but she doesn’t yet know when the redesign will be ready for release.
With information from CBC’s Celina Aalders
