Sask. 2nd-last province to sign on to National School Food Program

Hannah Spray · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 10, 2025 6:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

School nutrient programs successful Saskatchewan are going to beryllium disposable for much students successful much schools.

On Monday, the state and the national government announced an statement nether the National School Food Program that volition spot the national authorities walk astir $15.8 cardinal implicit the adjacent 3 years.

The money, which volition beryllium utilized to grow and heighten schoolhouse nutrient programs successful the province, was welcomed by Shawn Davidson, president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.

"Essentially, this wealth amounts to astir a doubling of existing concern successful schoolhouse food," helium said successful an interview. "It's rather important for schoolhouse divisions and we're precise blessed to beryllium capable to rotation retired immoderate further opportunities for students."

School boards have been advocating for much enactment for nutritional programs successful schools. Saskatchewan has the second-highest kid poorness complaint among of the provinces, with astir one-fifth of children experiencing poverty, according to accusation provided by the schoolhouse committee association.

About fractional the schools successful the state connection immoderate signifier of nutrient program, often successful concern with schoolhouse boards and community-based organizations.

"When kids are hungry, they can't focus, it's that simple," Jenna Sudds, national curate of families, children and societal development, said successful a statement. "That's wherefore we're making definite much kids successful Saskatchewan get steadfast meals astatine school. Filling their bellies with nutritious nutrient volition acceptable them up for success. It besides helps parents prevention hundreds connected groceries."

Details astir however the national backing would beryllium utilized were scarce connected Monday, contempt the information Saskatchewan is the second-last state to motion connected to the program.

When the archetypal provinces signed on last fall, authorities announcements specified however galore students would payment (a further 4,100 kids successful Newfoundland and Labrador and 19,080 kids successful Manitoba, for example). But successful Saskatchewan, the announcement referred lone to "more students."

No 1 successful the provincial Ministry of Education was made disposable for an interview, and the section responded to a abbreviated list of questions with a two-sentence connection that did not reply the questions.

"We are pleased that we were capable to scope an statement with the national authorities to grow connected our government's ongoing grounds of delivering nutritious nutrient to children crossed the province," the ministry's statement said. "This backing builds connected the enactment being done done the Saskatchewan Child Nutrition Program which has assisted schoolhouse divisions and community-based organizations to supply steadfast meals to Saskatchewan students for 35 years."

Saskatchewan and the Yukon some announced agreements nether the National School Food Program connected Monday, leaving Alberta arsenic the lone state oregon territory that has not signed on.

Provinces person besides been signing agreements to widen the national child-care programme until 2031. However, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the lone 2 provinces that person not yet signed agreements connected that.