Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh used a B.C. food security platform to advocate for a national school lunch program in the upcoming budget.
香蕉视频直播淧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,香蕉视频直播� said Singh. 香蕉视频直播淲hile parents make big sacrifices to keep food on the table, grocery store CEOs like Galen Weston are making record profits at Canadians香蕉视频直播� expense.香蕉视频直播�
He was joined Wednesday morning (March 6) by Vancouver Island NDP MPs Rachel Blaney and Gord Johns at a press conference hosted by Courtenay香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 chief objectives.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙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,香蕉视频直播� said Singh. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to make this happen across the country香蕉视频直播� in every city, in every community, so that every kid can go to school and know that they香蕉视频直播檒l have a healthy lunch.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to point out that the Liberals have promised to bring (a national school lunch program) for years and haven香蕉视频直播檛 done so,香蕉视频直播� said Singh. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e been dragging their feet, stringing people along and that香蕉视频直播檚 wrong.
香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�
Singh also expressed dissatisfaction with the Conservatives香蕉视频直播� handling of the situation.
香蕉视频直播淩ecently we had a vote on a national school lunch program and Pierre Poilievre香蕉视频直播檚 (party) voted against it,香蕉视频直播� said Singh. 香蕉视频直播淗ow could they look a kid in the eyes, who hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been getting nutritious meals, and say they香蕉视频直播檙e gonna vote against a school lunch program?香蕉视频直播�
Before Singh香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淥rganizations like Lush Valley here in the Comox Valley are going above and beyond to ensure that people in our communities have food,香蕉视频直播� said Johns. 香蕉视频直播淕roups (like LUSH) are leading the way and are filling crucial gaps that are widening as poverty rates rise.香蕉视频直播�
Yet, Johns recognized that the grunt of the work falls on non-profits across the country.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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,香蕉视频直播� said Johns. 香蕉视频直播淲hile the B.C. government has been a meaningful partner香蕉视频直播� the federal government hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been doing its share, (and) families are still waiting for this help. We need the federal government to fill the gap.香蕉视频直播�
For LUSH Valley香蕉视频直播檚 executive director Maurita Prato, potential help from the federal government could make a night and day difference amid this current crisis.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now, we香蕉视频直播檙e supporting 300 school district families through our (programs, but) there continues to be so much need,香蕉视频直播� said Prato. 香蕉视频直播�(Organizations like ours are) really pushing wraparound policies (and are asking) for the federal government香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�
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