Nova Scotia to roll out school lunch program to elementary grades in October – Halifax [Video]

Elementary students across Nova Scotia will get their first servings of the province’s new school lunch program in October, says Education Minister Becky Druhan.

The first phase of the pay-what-you-can program will serve more than 75,000 students in elementary grades in 250 schools, Druhan said Friday. Families can pay the full $6.50 cost of the lunch, part of that price or nothing at all.

“Families will decide what is affordable every time they order a school lunch,” she said. “What you choose to pay will be known only by you. This is a confidential stigma-free program.”

Druhan called the funding model a “responsible” way to proceed, adding that many families have told the government they were “happy” to contribute to the cost of their students’ food. She said more than 10,000 people participated in online consultations.

Government officials said they expected a significant number of people will pay something for …