Thank you very much. My name is Mary McKenna. I'm a professor at the University of New Brunswick and a member of the coalition for healthy school food, a project of Food Secure Canada.
Did you know that recent research from the United States found that school meals provide 77% of students' total milk-group consumption? Here in Canada, today, 20% of students will participate in a school food program. These programs are largely volunteer-run and have multiple funders, including parents, schools, community groups, businesses, municipalities, territories and provinces.
We are asking your government to become a funder and invest $360 million in a cost-shared program totalling $1.8 billion. Your investment will support Senate motion number 358, introduced recently by Senator Art Eggleton, which recommends federal funding for a nutrition program. This investment will establish new programs and strengthen existing ones. Evidence shows that food programs available to all students have many health and learning benefits, create jobs, and improve local economies. Everybody wins, especially our kids.
Thank you.