N.L., Ottawa launch partnership to expand provincial school lunch program

Newfoundland and Labrador has signed an agreement with the federal government to expand support for its provincial school lunch program, which they say will give more than 4,000 students access to a hot lunch this school year.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the funding, totalling $9.1 million over the next three years, in Rocky Harbour on Wednesday.

According to a press release from Trudeau's office, the money will give 4,100 more students the ability to avail of the province's school lunch program.

"We're talking about thousands of kids who are going to have access to school food across the province, and indeed as we continue to sign with provinces across the country, more and more kids from coast to coast to coast," Trudeau said.

Jenna Sudds, Canada's minister of families, children and social development, told reporters the funding will allow 58 more schools to bring lunch programs online.

The agreement is part of Canada's National School Food Program, announced in April as part of the 2024 budget. The federal government says it will spend $1 billion on the program over five years.

Newfoundland and Labrador is the first province to partner with the feds on the program so far, although Trudeau has encouraged other provinces to do the same. He said Manitoba and Prince Edward Island are expected to be the next two provinces to sign on.

The national program aims to feed 400,000 kids across Canada per year. The funding will support provincial and territorial programs, with the federal government saying giving kids access to a healthy meal will help them reach their full potential.

"The school food program that we're rolling out across the country as provinces sign on is expected to save hundreds of dollars, up to $800 for a family with two kids, across the country. And that's going to make a real difference at a time when [grocery] prices are high and people are squeezed," Trudeau said.

Newfoundland and Labrador has spent over $3 million on the provincial school lunch program in the 2023-24 fiscal year, which the press release said helps provide lunches for 37,000 students and breakfasts for an additional 61,000 students.

Premier Andrew Furey called the announcement a game-changer, saying it will expedite the province's plans to grow the school lunch program.

"You can't reach your full potential unless you have a full belly. And so I think it is incredibly important for us as governments to focus on how we make sure that children are able to learn and meet their full potential, including being well fed," he said.

"Partnering with the federal government will allow us to achieve higher metrics at a faster rate than we had even thought possible when we announced this program last year."

John Finn, president of the School Lunch Association in Newfoundland and Labrador, said the announcement is welcome news. The association operates in 43 of around 280 schools in the province on a pay-what-you-can model for parents and students.

"Certainly very pleased, and more so pleased to see that Newfoundland was the first out of the gate to step up," Finn told CBC News on Wednesday.

"There certainly is a need across the province here, and we're no different than just about any other province in the country."

Finn said it's up to the province to decide where the money goes, but said the association would likely look to where the money is most needed if it were to receive the yearly funds.

NDP agreement ends during N.L. stop

Trudeau made the announcement in Rocky Harbour alongside Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal MPs, including Long Range Mountains MP Gudie Hutchings.

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has visited the district, where he's taken several political shots at Hutchings, on several occasions within the last year.

Furey is also the MHA for Humber-Gros Morne, which includes Rocky Harbour.

Trudeau told reporters he chose the west coast outport as the backdrop for Wednesday's announcement partly because of its representation by Furey and Hutchings.

"I will say that it probably contributes significantly to it that I have both a minister, and a friend who is premier who represents this beautiful community, and wanting to showcase the impact of this announcement for kids here in their home districts that are going to be impactful right across the province," Trudeau said.

Trudeau also took to the podium shortly after the NDP announced it would be terminating its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals. Asked about the move by reporters, he said his government is more focused on helping Canadians.

"I really hope the NDP stays focused on how we can deliver for Canadians, as we have over the past years, rather than focusing on politics," he said.

"These are the things that we're focused on. I'll let others focus on politics."

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