Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh used a B.C. food security platform to advocate for a national school lunch program in the upcoming budget.

害羞草研究所淧arents are doing everything they can to take care of their kids, but the cost of food just keeps going up. In a country as rich as ours, no child should ever have to go to school hungry,害羞草研究所� said Singh. 害羞草研究所淲hile parents make big sacrifices to keep food on the table, grocery store CEOs like Galen Weston are making record profits at Canadians害羞草研究所� expense.害羞草研究所�

He was joined Wednesday morning (March 6) by Vancouver Island NDP MPs Rachel Blaney and Gord Johns at a press conference hosted by Courtenay害羞草研究所檚 food security non-profit LUSH Valley, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of providing nutritious meals to students.

Singh is prioritizing a national school lunch program as one of his party害羞草研究所檚 chief objectives.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e making it very clear in this upcoming budget (that) one of our specific demands is that the federal government finally commit to a national school lunch program,害羞草研究所� said Singh. 害羞草研究所淲e want to make this happen across the country害羞草研究所� in every city, in every community, so that every kid can go to school and know that they害羞草研究所檒l have a healthy lunch.害羞草研究所�

In turn, such a program could also alleviate a significant source of stress and financial burden for parents across the country, believes the politician.

As the NDP leader stated, school districts across B.C. received provincial funding through the Feeding Futures program, but Singh is pushing the federal government to do its part.

Despite a good working relationship with the minority Liberal government, Singh remained critical of their involvement in solving the issue of food insecurity in schools.

害羞草研究所淚 want to point out that the Liberals have promised to bring (a national school lunch program) for years and haven害羞草研究所檛 done so,害羞草研究所� said Singh. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e been dragging their feet, stringing people along and that害羞草研究所檚 wrong.

害羞草研究所淲e are demanding that the Liberal government bring in funding for a national school lunch program so every kid can get access to a nutritious meal at school.害羞草研究所�

Singh also expressed dissatisfaction with the Conservatives害羞草研究所� handling of the situation.

害羞草研究所淩ecently we had a vote on a national school lunch program and Pierre Poilievre害羞草研究所檚 (party) voted against it,害羞草研究所� said Singh. 害羞草研究所淗ow could they look a kid in the eyes, who hasn害羞草研究所檛 been getting nutritious meals, and say they害羞草研究所檙e gonna vote against a school lunch program?害羞草研究所�

Before Singh害羞草研究所檚 address, NDP MP for Courtenay-Alberni Gord Johns took the chance to highlight the work of a local non-profit in fighting against food insecurity.

害羞草研究所淥rganizations like Lush Valley here in the Comox Valley are going above and beyond to ensure that people in our communities have food,害羞草研究所� said Johns. 害羞草研究所淕roups (like LUSH) are leading the way and are filling crucial gaps that are widening as poverty rates rise.害羞草研究所�

Yet, Johns recognized that the grunt of the work falls on non-profits across the country.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 crucial to point out that it should not fall to organizations like LUSH Valley to do this work without proper support from all levels of government,害羞草研究所� said Johns. 害羞草研究所淲hile the B.C. government has been a meaningful partner害羞草研究所� the federal government hasn害羞草研究所檛 been doing its share, (and) families are still waiting for this help. We need the federal government to fill the gap.害羞草研究所�

For LUSH Valley害羞草研究所檚 executive director Maurita Prato, potential help from the federal government could make a night and day difference amid this current crisis.

害羞草研究所淩ight now, we害羞草研究所檙e supporting 300 school district families through our (programs, but) there continues to be so much need,害羞草研究所� said Prato. 害羞草研究所�(Organizations like ours are) really pushing wraparound policies (and are asking) for the federal government害羞草研究所� to put in significant funds so that we can provide school food programming in a universal way so that every student has access to a meal across the country.害羞草研究所�

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