WHEREAS nearly 5,000 children across the Northwest Territories arrive at school without having had a healthy breakfast;

AND WHEREAS school breakfast programs have increased attendance at many NWT schools;

AND WHEREAS it is well documented that hungry children struggle to succeed in school;

AND WHEREAS children who are fed at school also benefit from feeling welcomed and loved;

AND WHEREAS healthy eating and basic nutrition should be learned by our children, starting at a young age, first by example and augmented later by study;

AND WHEREAS in 2010-2011, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment allocated $400,000 for a breakfast and lunch program in NWT schools and contracted Food First Foundation to deliver it;

AND WHEREAS this nutrition program has been cut for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, without any formal evaluation of its effectiveness;

AND WHEREAS many educators, parents and especially children support the program, making such statements as, “it has made such a tremendous difference in our school,” and “I cannot think of another single initiative that gives so much for so little” and, “I like to eat breakfast;”

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment reinstate the sunsetting funding for healthy eating and nutrition programs.