Nova Scotia Liberal Party Leader Zach Churchill. Image: submitted.

As food prices rise, the Nova Scotia Liberals are pushing for a universal school lunch program.

The Liberals say in the most recent house session, they tabled a number of bills to battle the high cost of living but say Premier Tim Houston wouldn’t act on the program without federal government support.

“Once again, this government is blaming everyone else for a program that is well within their control,” said Opposition Leader Zach Churchill. “Families are being forced to make tough decisions like whether to put food on the table or pay their power bills. A universal school lunch program would help thousands of Nova Scotians stay healthy and keep money in their pockets.”

Just recently, the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as well as Nova Scotia Health, announced a three-month pilot food program, in schools. It’s starting in the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  A portable salad bar, with fresh, local produce will be available to students, and if successful, it’s expected the program will expand.

Meanwhile, new data from the University of Toronto shows, 22 percent of households in Nova Scotia are food insecure. The Liberals say, this shows a school lunch program in the province, is an urgent need.