Premier: Access to Food in School?

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Despite the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development's assertion last week that every student who needs food in schools gets food in schools, we continue to hear concerns from parents and teachers about the children without enough to eat in schools across this province. A teacher from Dartmouth told us that they do everything they can at their school to support members of the community and that teachers and support staff - this happens all across the province - bring in food and extra clothes. They purchase hygiene supplies. This all comes out of their own pockets to the children they can identify.

Does the Premier agree with the minister that all children in Nova Scotia have access to healthy nutritious food in schools?

THE PREMIER « » : Of course, I remember very well the exchange last week when the Leader of the NDP used unparliamentary language and refused to apologize to this House, despite being asked five times to apologize. I remember the exchange very well, when the Leader of the NDP had to leave the Chamber because of the language she was using and her own actions. I remember that very well. I also remember what precipitated that discussion. I want to assure the member and all Nova Scotians that the work the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development is doing to support teachers, to support children, and to support families is work that I'm very proud of. There's more work to be done, of course, but I want to thank the minister and all those teachers who step up for students and for Nova Scotians. They do it in a way that is respectful, not like what we saw in this Chamber last week.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : My question to the Premier was whether he stood behind the minister's statement that I took issue with. I didn't get an answer, but I'll move to the next one.

Last year, the Auditor General reported that some students would not eat for the entire day if the school did not provide them with food. That's a quote. Right now, if the child is going hungry at school, they must put up their hand and ask for food - a barrier that we know prevents many hungry children from seeking help and underscores the importance of a universal program. This makes it abundantly clear that not all children who need food are getting it.

Does the Premier believe that hungry children should have to ask for food in school?

THE PREMIER « » : In respect of the first part, I want to assure the member that not only do I stand behind the minister, I also stand beside the minister. Were it necessary, I would stand in front of the minister to protect her and her department against the types of allegations that people sometimes make. The minister and the department are doing incredible work to support students. There is more work to be done. Our teachers in this province go above and beyond every single day to support students. I'm not aware of any teacher or school that would have a policy that would ask a student to put up their hand and ask for food. If that's a situation happening in classrooms, then that is not acceptable.

What I would say I'm aware of is breakfast programs across this province. I'm aware of students being supported every day by teachers. Those are the teachers whom I stand with.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The Premier stands with the minister, but does he believe that children in Nova Scotia who need access to healthy food get it? Food bank usage across the province is rising, up 27 per cent this year alone. One-third of Nova Scotians accessing food supports are children - one-third. The impact of this is seen daily in our schools. Another teacher told us simply that they are seeing more and more students throughout the entire school population come to school hungry. Can the Premier tell us when every child who needs food in school will actually get it?

THE PREMIER « » : We know the struggles Nova Scotian, Canadians, and people around the world are feeling. This is putting incredible pressures on families. That's why, as a government, we have worked to increase the Nova Scotia Child Benefit. We have done that in each of our last two budgets - increased the Child Benefit. That's why we're working to reduce the child care fees. That's why we're working to enhance the supports available to foster families. That's why we're investing in new children's tax credits for families. Of course there is more work to be done. Nobody in this House, nobody in any community, no Nova Scotian I know would be satisfied with a child being hungry. That's not something that we accept. We work to do the best we can and will continue to do that.