Nova Scotia won't serve up universal school lunch program without Ottawa

Nova Scotia will be ready to launch a universal school lunch program when the federal government finalizes details for the plan, but the province's education minister says the program will not start before that.

Becky Druhan was responding recently after calls from opposition party leaders to get on with it, even if Ottawa has not finalized the program promised by the federal Liberals in 2021.

In an interview, Druhan said she's talked with Karina Gould, the federal minister of families, children and social development, about the program, but she doesn't know when it will be ready.

Druhan said the plan would be to build on the province's universal breakfast program, so the lunch program can get going quickly once a deal is in place with Ottawa. The plan is that a free meal would be available for all students who want one.

"Federal funding for this program is an incredible opportunity and we want to make sure that we leverage that," she said.

"We're really excited for them to come along with that and we're hopeful that that will happen soon."

"We can assure Nova Scotians that that is happening. Any student that needs food in schools gets food in schools."

But opposition leaders say most of the time that food is being provided by teachers and volunteers. They want the province to launch a universal school lunch program now, rather than waiting for Ottawa.

"The province can't sit around and wait for the federal government to come through on this," said Liberal Leader Zach Churchill.

He said such a move would be in line with the government's promise to fix health care.

"And if they actually want to move the needle on health care they actually have to start focusing on people's health. And guess what, access to good quality, healthy food is the biggest part of that."

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the province has high rates of child poverty and a universal school lunch program would help those children most in need.

"We hear about kids who can't concentrate after lunch," she said.

"We hear about, you know, failing grades and behavioural problems and all of that stems from a lack of access to healthy food."

Consultations recently wrapped up

In an emailed statement, Gould's press secretary said the government held consultation sessions in recent months with more than 130 organizations and more than 5,000 people completed a consultation survey.

"[W]ork is well underway to develop a policy framework and program, in collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners," said Philippe-Alexandre Langlois.

"We look forward to reporting back to Canadians on what we heard in the consultations."