The federal government is investing $7.4 million to support school food programs across the Northwest Territories, aiming to improve student nutrition and help offset rising grocery costs for families.
The funding, supplemented by an additional $1.95 million from the GNWT, will benefit 8,615 children in all 49 schools across the territory over the next three years.
“With this federal funding, schools can make decisions about how to best put this money into action,” said Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland. “It can be put towards groceries, traditional food, kitchen equipment, staffing or training.”
The dollars will initiatives tailored to each community’s needs, such as taking students on traditional hunts, building school gardens, or simply be used for purchasing more food.
Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, said the program will help further reduce pressure on parents, alongside other federal initiatives such as the $10-a-day early learning and child care program and the Canada Child Benefit, which provides up to $600 per month.
“With the National School Food Program, a family of two could be saving up to $800 in groceries each year,” said Sudds, who joined the announcement virtually. “Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 will have access to healthy food so they can reach their full potential.”
Prior to the federal school food program, the GNWT had been investing $650,000 annually in the Healthy Food for Learning program since 2015.
