Thanks, Gudie. It’s great to be here in the beautiful Long Range Mountains in Western Newfoundland. It’s just wonderful to be back here in the province with such friends. Premier Furey, Andrew, it’s great that you’re here today to make this important announcement together, because good things happen when we work together, when all of us work together. Great to be here. Meghan, thank you for your welcome. Our outstanding Newfoundland Caucus, Minister Jenna Sudds and Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay. It’s an opportunity for us to come together and kick off this school year in the right way. 

But before I get into that, I just wanted to say a couple of words about the Bank of Canada’s decision earlier today. This is good news. This means that Canadians—whether it’s families or small businesses or workers—are going to see a little relief with the dropping of our interest rates for the third time in a row. Canada is now the first major economy to have three interest rates cuts in a row, and it’s because we’ve got inflation under control. Wages are growing faster than inflation, our economy is in a solid position, and now we’re going to make things more affordable for Canadians. So, this is a good, big piece of news that Canadians can be really, really excited and reassured that we’re on the right track as a country.

I want to emphasize that the Bank of Canada’s decision to lower interest rates again this morning is very good news for Canadians: for workers, for families, for businesses. It shows that, yes, inflation is under control because it was managed responsibly. Salaries are growing faster than inflation. The economy is in good shape because we continued to manage it responsibly and this is going to help families all across the country.

But part of helping families right across the country is making sure we’re stepping up. As even the economy is doing well at a macro level, Canadians are still facing real pressures in their daily lives with the cost of living, and that’s why, as a government, we’re continuing to step up. And right now, as we’re seeing the school year start, we know that being there to make sure that no kids are going hungry, make sure that kids have access to good, high-quality food in their schools is both important for them and their learning. I know that as a teacher, I know that as a parent, but I also know that it’s something that takes pressure off of grocery prices. 

The School Food Program that we’re rolling out across the country, as provinces sign on, is expected to save hundreds of dollars, up to $800 for a family with two kids across the country, and that’s going to make a real difference at a time where prices are high and people are squeezed. The fact that we’re able to announce this first in Newfoundland is really a testament to the work that Premier Furey has done in putting kids first and making those investments that are going to support people right across Newfoundland and Labrador. We’re talking about thousands of kids who are going to have access to school food across the province and, indeed, as we continue to sign with provinces across the country, more and more kids from coast to coast to coast. 

There’s a number of provinces ready to sign on next, we’re hoping Manitoba and Lawrence MacAulay’s home of PEI are going to be the next two provinces, but Ontario is working well and others are coming on board. But we do want to put pressure on all provinces to step up and deliver for those organizations that are already delivering school food programs across school districts, in schools across their provinces that could use the money that the federal government has put on the table to make sure that no kids are going hungry, that kids can concentrate in class. This is something that is basic and important, and it’s something that we’re getting behind and that we need to sign on to with many provinces. 

We need all the provinces to work with the federal government to deliver for all of the organizations that are there to help kids get through the day with a full belly. We know that there are too many families who are feeling the pressure of grocery costs; this, this will save hundreds of dollars for families all across the country. So, I encourage all provinces to sign on with the federal government to get the money that we make available for kids. 

There’s a lot of work to do as we continue to invest in Canadians, as we continue to grow the economy, as we continue to protect the environment and move forward, and I’m looking forward to continuing to do that work with collaborative partners like the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and many governments right across the country.