“Niagara Nutrition Partners, which provides meals to tens of thousands of students daily, has faced repeated funding crises under the Ford government. Earlier this year, shortfalls forced temporary program pauses and left thousands of students without access to breakfast or snacks.”
A Statement from Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates whose riding includes Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie, Ontario
Posted October 14th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
NIAGARA – Ontario NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) says today’s (October 10th, 2025) announcement (https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006596/ontario-increasing-student-nutrition-investment-to-375-million) (from the province’s Ford government) on student nutrition funding is a direct result of years of tireless advocacy from community partners, local volunteers, and families who refused to let children go hungry in classrooms, but warns that the funding remains far too low to meet the real need.
“For years, Niagara parents, educators, and community organizations have been calling for sustainable funding for student nutrition programs.
This (Ontario Ford) government is celebrating an investment that, when stretched across the entire province, amounts to only pennies per meal. Ontario students deserve better than bargain-basement funding for something as essential as a healthy breakfast.
“Niagara Nutrition Partners, which provides meals to tens of thousands of students daily, has faced repeated funding crises under the Ford government. Earlier this year, shortfalls forced temporary program pauses and left thousands of students without access to breakfast or snacks.
“Niagara has been a true leader in exposing the gaps in Ontario’s student nutrition programs. Our community has led the fight, and we’re not stopping until there’s a permanent solution that guarantees every child has access to healthy food at school.
“Our kids’ success in school should never depend on bake sales and emergency donations. This government has the responsibility to guarantee proper nutrition for every student, every day. That work isn’t done yet.”
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