ManitobaThe Manitoba government has earmarked $30 million annually for a universal school nutrition program, but the Opposition’s education critic questions whether all students have the same access to food and whether funding is stretched too thin.Each school division and school can deliver its own nutrition programJosh Crabb · CBC News · Posted: Sep 03, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoThe funding for Manitoba’s school nutrition program allowed Elmwood High School to buy new fridges and cooking appliances for its cafeteria kitchen. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)A school nutrition program touted by Manitoba’s NDP government as universal is returning for a second year, but the Opposition Progressive Conservatives are questioning whether all students are getting the same access to food.The provincial and federal governments signed a bilateral agreement and set aside millions of dollars last year to expand on previously offered nutrition programs, leaving it up to school divisions and schools to deliver the program based on the needs of their students.”We designed it so that the program would address the need where the need is the greatest,” said Manitoba Education Minister Tracy Schmidt.The provincial government earmarked $30 million annually while the federal government chipped in more than $17 million over three years.School divisions across the province get a share of that money based on size and socioeconomic need to deliver food and meals that meet Manitoba’s school nutrition guidelines.Fresh fruits and other healthy foods have proven popular with students in the Winnipeg School Division, with 26,000 of more than 31,000 enrolled regularly accessing either breakfast, lunch or a snack last year. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC )That can be either a breakfast, lunch or snack — or any combination of the three.Prior to this, the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba gave out grants and schools also received money through charities and private donors.”It’s now reaching all of the schools,” said Clara Birnie, the council’s community dietitian and grants manager. “Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba was only able to provide grants to around 400 schools.” The goal is to make sure all students have barrier-free access to healthy foods.”It is an open offer but students aren’t obliged to partake,” said Katherine Armstrong, director of nutrition for the Winnipeg School Division. “We really want to offer something that’s nutritionally dense, something that really helps them feel able to learn, ready to learn, and generally french fries aren’t going to fit the bill.” Schools are adapting to meet cultural and dietary requirements while dishing up food that students will actually eat, Armstrong said. “We’re bringing in a lot of food because we have a lot of students,” she said.Katherine Armstrong is the director of nutrition for the Winnipeg School Division. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC )One of the schools benefiting from the program is Elmwood High School.Fridges and cooking appliances in its cafeteria kitchen were upgraded thanks to the increased funding. The school’s food co-ordinator, Robert Zaina, said it will mean he and a helper can give students more options this coming year.”A lot last year was getting pre-made stuff, but this year we’re focusing on fresh meals twice a day: breakfast and lunch,” said Zaina. “Last year was a lot of sandwiches but this year we’re going to limit that.” He was busy Tuesday sorting through boxes of fresh food that arrived ahead of the first day back to class.There were shipments of fruits, vegetables and meat that Zaina will use to prepare hundreds of meals per day for students.Elmwood High School’s food co-ordinator Robert Zaina unpacks a box of pears shipped to the cafeteria ahead of the first day of classes. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC )Fresh fruits and other healthy foods have proven popular with students in schools like Elmwood.More than 31,000 students were enrolled in the Winnipeg School Division last year. Of those, 26,000 regularly accessed breakfast, lunch or a snack, according to Armstrong.Progressive Conservative education critic Wayne Ewasko called the nutrition program a great initiative, but he questioned if all students are getting the same access to food and he is concerned the money is stretched too thin.”School divisions have to then hire staff, have to have prep for the food, in some cases had to upgrade their kitchen facilities,” Ewasko said. “So that’s all coming out of that one pot of money.”Provincial funding for the nutrition program will remain the same this school year.Manitoba’s Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said the universal school nutrition program is delivered by school divisions and schools because they know best what their students need. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)Schmidt said the province is offering support to help schools provide quality food and worked over the summer to adjust funding where needed.”I think that’s going to be an ongoing dialogue, and an ongoing assessment with schools and community partners to make sure that we are meeting the different needs across the many different communities in our province.”The minister said so far, there has been anecdotal evidence of success through student feedback and, in some cases, improved attendance.School nutrition program delivers healthy foods based on needManitoba’s universal school nutrition program is entering its second year and adjustments are being made to funding and food options. Each school division and school can once again deliver its own program to meet the needs of students.ABOUT THE AUTHORJosh Crabb is a reporter with CBC Manitoba. He started reporting in 2005 at CKX-TV in Brandon, Man. After spending three years working in television in Red Deer, Alta., Josh returned to Manitoba in 2010 and has been covering stories across the province and in Winnipeg ever since.
First day of classes marks return of Manitoba’s universal school nutrition program
