QS wants to tackle hunger in schools this fall

Photo: Mychele Daniau Archives Agence France-Presse Québec solidaire believes that a universal Quebec food program could be set up.

Florence Morin-Martel

Published yesterday at 1:49 p.m. Updated yesterday at 8:18 p.m.

• Québec

Québec solidaire (QS) will table a motion next week in the Salon bleu to ask the CAQ government to repatriate the Quebec share of the federal school food program, party spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said Thursday.

After reaching an agreement with Ottawa, Quebec could therefore set up a universal school food program for the population, he believes. “With one in five children going hungry in our classrooms, we can't afford to wait,” the elected official stressed on the sidelines of the QS pre-back-to-school caucus, which was held in Granby, in the Eastern Townships.

“Quebec is capable of taking charge of school meals,” said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois. He therefore invites all parties present in the National Assembly to work together to eliminate hunger in schools. “It's good for children's success, it's good for parents' wallets and it's good for our local agricultural producers who will supply the program. »

Last spring, Ottawa announced the implementation of a national school food program that includes investments of $1 billion over five years. The Trudeau government hopes to provide meals to 400,000 more children per year.

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Québec solidaire estimates that the share of this program that would go to Quebec would be approximately $40 million per year. “It’s certain that it won’t be enough to implement a universal program in Quebec. The Quebec government will have to invest,” said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

As for the form that this initiative would take, the QS spokesperson said he was “open to compromise.” He initially proposes that it be intended for public elementary and secondary schools. “It’s a program that would cost between $400 and $700 million, depending on the terms we choose. Do we want a 100% free program? ? Do we want to open the door to voluntary contributions from parents, for example? ? There are plenty of terms we can look at. »

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Avoid stigmatization

The Solidarity MNA for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie, believes that it would be necessary to make this initiative accessible to all children in order to avoid “stigmatization”. “It would not be obligatory, but we would like to offer it to everyone.”

The tabling of this motion on school meals is the first in a series of actions that will be taken soon on this subject, specified Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. “There will be others throughout the fall,” he assured, without providing further details.

The 12 elected representatives in solidarity met on Thursday in caucus to prepare for the resumption of parliamentary work. In addition to hunger in schools, they plan to focus on adaptation to climate change and the effects of the rising cost of living.