The Federal NDP is calling out on Conservatives after the official Opposition party voted against a bill that would establish a school food program.
Second reading of Bill C-322, An Act to develop a national framework to establish a school food program, was introduced in the parliament.
“While grocery CEOs continue to get big bonuses and raise the price of food that families need, kids across the country continue to go hungry. What are the Conservatives doing? Pierre Poilievre and his corporate coalition voted against a bill that would establish a school food program. But this shouldn’t come as a surprise – Conservatives have long believed that it’s not their job to feed children,” said Jagmeet Singh, leader of NDP.
Canada is the only G7 country that doesn’t have a school nutrition program. Despite the Liberals promising to implement a school food program in the 2021 campaign, progress has been slow and there remains no sign that such a program will be included in the next federal budget.
BC Teachers have been raising the alarm in Ottawa, and New Democrats are firmly on their side when it comes to helping kids learn and get the nutrition they need. But for Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, it’s business as usual denying hungry kids the opportunity to learn.
“More families than ever before are being forced to turn to food banks, but Pierre Poilievre doesn’t want to help because he’d rather give more money to rich corporations. Poilievre says he’s in it for you and your kids, but it’s all an act. He’s really working for rich CEOs,” said NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody – Coquitlam). “A school nutrition program helps students perform better in school, boosts their mental health, and gives parents assurances that their child is doing well. It’s simply unacceptable that the Conservatives will let kids go hungry when there are solutions served to them.”
