The Manitoba government is planning to take a step in the coming weeks toward its plan for a universal school meal program.

Premier Wab Kinew says the government is putting up $1.5 million to eliminate a wait list at the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba for the remainder of the current school year.

The non-profit council grants money for meal and snack programs in schools that apply for help, and there were 51 programs on a wait list as of earlier this year.

One of Kinew's promises before being elected in October was a universal school nutrition program that would cost the province an estimated $30 million a year.

Manitoba NDP pledge to expand school meals met with praise from principal, muted criticism from PCs

A New Democratic Party promise to offer free meals at every public school in Manitoba is being met with praise from social advocates but only muted criticism from the governing Progressive Conservatives.

Children sitting at long tables in a school eat breakfast.

In this Wednesday, April 8, 2015 photo, students are served breakfast at the Stanley Mosk Elementary School in Los Angeles. In this Los Angeles Unified School District program, and in other major urban school districts, breakfast is increasingly being served inside the classroom. The number of breakfasts served in the nation’s schools has doubled in the last two decades, a surge driven largely by a change in how districts deliver the food. Instead of providing low-income students free or reduced-price meals in the cafeteria, they’re increasingly serving all children in the classroom. 

Breakfast In Class

A file photo shows children being served breakfast at a Los Angeles school. The Manitoba NDP wants to offer meals at all public schools in this province.

The education and early childhood learning department says the universal program is still in the early stages of development and there is no proposed cost right now.

Kinew says the universal program will be in place by the next school year in September, as promised.

"The idea is to have a universally accessible meal program," Kinew said in a year-end interview.

"Not that every kid in Manitoba needs to eat as part of the school program, but that it has a reach across all the school divisions and regions of the province."

How rising prices are taking a bite out of school food programs

Rising costs are making it more difficult for school food programs to meet the needs of students, as families struggle to deal with the high cost of living.

A woman prepares lunch boxes full of food.

Sandra Copeland, coordinator for the school breakfast program at Carson Grove Elementary in Ottawa, helps prep food for students. She says she's had to get creative to stretch her budget as food prices rise.

SandraCopelandCBC

Sandra Copeland of the breakfast program at Carson Grove Elementary School in Ottawa helps prepare food for students. She says she's had to get creative to stretch her budget as prices rise.

Growing number of Manitoba schools want meal programs, Nutrition Council says as $1.3M in funding announced

The provincial government will pump another $1.3 million into nutrition programs that a charitable organization says are in high demand at Manitoba schools.

A woman stands speaking at a podium in a classroom kitchen.

Teacher Patricia Pawluk speaks at a funding announcement for school nutrition programs at Acadia Junior High School in Winnipeg on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.

Patricia Pawluk nutrition funding Sept 1 2022

Teacher Patricia Pawluk speaks at a funding announcement for school nutrition programs at Acadia Junior High in Winnipeg on Thursday.

One of Premier Wab Kinew's promises before being elected in October was a universal school nutrition program that would cost the province an estimated $30 million a year.

Manitoba moves toward promised universal school meal program

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