Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Consequences range from inability to focus in school to behavioural issues. Combine these with the health conditions that were previously seen almost exclusively among adults but are now seen in children, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea are all leading to a preventable health crisis, something that we can address here in the Legislative Assembly in this government. Recognizing the importance that nutrition plays in educating our children, we need to look for ways that we can ensure that children in our territory have daily access to healthy foods. School meal and snack programs are effective and measurable in this regard. Schools readily recognize the impact that hunger and poor choices have on learning, yet schools are forced to cobble together meal and snack programs, taxing already overburdened school staff to plan, shop for and prepare as well as serve the food. On top of this, schools are constantly having to source funds for these much needed programs.

Breakfast for Learning has been providing funding to the support of NWT schools since its inception in 1992. They are well recognized as leaders in the field of school nutrition. I am proud that our government brought public recognition to the work that they do. However, we must find additional ways to support their work and, by extension, school nutrition. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.