N.S. school lunch program will be free for some, but not for all

Nova Scotia's school lunch program will roll out in elementary schools in October using a pay-what-you-can model.

The province announced the long-anticipated universal lunch program earlier this year. Becky Druhan, minister of education and early childhood development, shared more details with reporters Thursday.

Druhan said 256 elementary schools will be part of the first phase. Those schools have already notified students and their families.

She said the province is working on a tech platform for families to order lunches and for schools and food vendors to manage those orders.

Druhan said the cost will be within reach for anyone who wants to participate, but didn't offer specifics. She said those will come in the next few weeks.

"But people should know now that it will be affordable for everyone and that does mean pay what you can," she said following a cabinet meeting. "So, for some people, that will be a free lunch program. For others, they will pay an amount."

Opposition leaders were not satisfied.

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill said he thinks the program should be free for everybody. He was skeptical of the pay-what-you-can model.

"What does that mean? Does that mean you're paying based on your household income? Does that mean you're donating money? We don't know," Churchill said.

"I don't think working-class families should be subsidizing this program. Working-class families in Nova Scotia are struggling to make ends meet right now."

NDP Leader Claudia Chender also said she would like the program to be free for all students. 

She said the information shared to date on the school lunch program has left parents "curious and concerned."

"I have no idea what pay what you can means.… How does the government know what we can pay and what we can't?"