THUNDER BAY — School nutrition programs will receive extra cash from the province.
In an announcement last week, the province will invest $5 million to help provide meals and food for children in school settings.
The money will be split with $4.25 million going specifically to the province's Student Nutrition Program, and $750,000 has been allocated for the First Nations Student Nutrition Program.
An email response from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services said $300,000 would go to Student Nutrition Programs in the northwestern parts of the province and over $400,000 to the First Nations Student Nutrition Program.
The Thunder Bay chapter of the Red Cross will allocate funds for more than 80 schools in the region, while the Northwest Health Unit will manage the funding for the Kenora and Rainy River districts.
"Participating schools will be able to purchase additional healthy food and beverages for their meal and snack programs for students during the 2023/24 school year," a Northwestern Health Unit spokesperson said in a statement.
"First Nations Student Nutrition Program partners in the region will also receive a portion of this additional funding to support meal and snack programs delivered in First Nations schools."
The First Nations Student Nutrition Program funds will go directly to those groups.
According to Breakfast Club Canada, one in four children across Canada is experiencing food insecurity, coupled with the rising cost of food will likely lead to more children needing access to food outside of their homes.
They also state that as Canada is a member of the G7, it is the only country not to have a school nutrition program.
During the 2021 federal election, the Liberal government had promised to commit $1 billion over five years towards a national school nutritious meal program that has yet to come to fruition after various consultation meetings.