Kinew vows to protect school food programs with ‘Nello’s Law’

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This article was published 28/11/2024 (325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s premier has pledged to introduce “Nello’s Law” this session to protect the future of the NDP’s universal school nutrition program.

Education Minister Nello Altomare has been on medical leave since early October. The cancer survivor was scheduled for surgery to address the side-effects of chemotherapy and improve his stamina this fall.

Speaking to the remote MLA for Transcona via question period Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew shared his appreciation for his colleague and prayers from the caucus members.

“How many of us get a chance to make such a mark in the area that is our life’s work? I don’t know, but you had a chance to do it,” Kinew said.

He continued: “And here’s the thing, because the school food program is going to make generational change, because it will make Transcona and Manitoba safer for generations to come, we know that we have to protect it.”

Altomare, a retired principal, has been a vocal supporter of school nutrition policy, dating back to when he was the NDP’s education critic under the Pallister government.

Future legislation that will ensure no government can undo the program, which was rolled out this fall, will be named after the career educator, Kinew said Thursday.

The announcement was met with a standing ovation.

The Kinew government earmarked $30 million in this year’s budget to make healthy meals more widely available to students in local public schools.

Manitoba was also the second province to officially sign a federal school food initiative this year.

The bilateral agreement includes $17.2 million in federal funding for breakfast, lunch and snack programs over the next three years.

Local schools have been allotted $3.8 million in 2024-25.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca