Students in New Brunswick will now have free access to breakfast through 269 public schools in partnership with Feed NB.
“We know that when students have a full belly, they can better focus on learning,” said Premier Susan Holt in a release from the Liberal government. “By giving students universal access to a school breakfast program, we are giving them one of the essential tools they need to succeed while also helping to make life more affordable for New Brunswick families.”
It comes after the Minister of Education Claire Johnson told CBC New Brunswick (CBCNB) the government would need more time to analyze what other provinces were doing with similar programs.
“So we’re going to be rolling that one out next year. The beginning of next [school] year.” she said to CBC NB.
The free breakfast program and pay-what-you-can lunch program was part of the Holt government’s campaign promises. Holt said last year the free breakfast program would cost $9 million and the pay-what-you-can lunch program would cost $18 million, according to reporting by CBC NB.
In February, the federal government committed $11 million to help support the free breakfast program, which would reduce the cost for the province, who will pay $2 million.
The program will expand to the 160 schools that were previously included. It said the expansion of the program sees the federal and provincial government providing $13 million in funding.
Breakfasts will include apples, milk, eggs, cheese, bread, cereal, bagels and other nutritious options. It said it will source as many of those things from New Brunswick, and where possible, Canada.
“This school breakfast program will mean more engaged students and better results overall,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson.
Stéphane Sirois, Feed NB’s executive director, said the organization is thrilled to partner with the provincial government.
“This is a big step towards our vision of a hunger-free New Brunswick,” he said.
Statistics Canada reports one in four children arrive every day at school hungry.
