Manitoba premier vows to protect school food program in education minister's honour
Nello Altomare stepped away from his duties back in October for undisclosed medical reasons
Manitoba's premier vowed Thursday to introduce legislation that puts the province's current universal school food program into law permanently.
It's being done in honour of Education Minister and Transcona MLA Nello Altomare, who has been on leave for undisclosed medical reasons since October. The NDP government said Thursday it wouldn't comment any further on Altomare's condition and how he's doing.
Speaking during Thursday's sitting of the Manitoba Legislature, Premier Wab Kinew expressed his love and support for Altomare, adding he's glad the minister was in a place where he could hear his comments.
"That's why in front of you, the member for Transcona, everybody here watching, I want to make this commitment," Kinew said. "This session we are going to bring in legislation to ensure that the universal school food program can never be repealed in Manitoba.
"And no government can ever cut it again," said Kinew. And I want you to know that we are going to call this law 'Nello's Law.'"
The program was rolled out this past fall, with the province putting up $30 million annually to supplement the existing patchwork of health meal programs across the province. The money will also be used to create meal programs in schools that weren't already offering them, to help make sure there's some sort of nutrition program in every school.
At the time, Altomare said the most common program across the 690 public schools in the province would be free breakfast.
In some schools, the provincial funds will go toward renovating kitchens and hiring more staff.
Back in October, the province also reached a deal to join the federal school food program, which will see over $17 million in additional federal funding added over the next three years to the $30 million the province already has budgeted for its program.
After he shuffled his cabinet earlier this month, Kinew said he spoke to Altomare the day before to give him a heads-up.
On Thursday, Kinew said Altomare made a mark as a politician and that he fought to create the program.
"How many of us get a chance to make such a mark in an area that is our life's work? I don't know, but you had a chance to do it," said Kinew.
