The following statement was issued today by Anna Thistle, Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly.

Government recognizes the important connection between healthy nutrition and children�s readiness to learn

The St. John�s School Lunch Association has publicly stated that they are experiencing financial difficulty and will not be able to continue their program to the end of June.

The Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education provides an annual grant of $75,000 to the St. John�s School Lunch Association, in three installments of $25,000 each.

In response to their current financial situation, my department will be advancing the Association with $50,000 of their annual grant today, which will alleviate their immediate concern so that there will be no interruption in the delivery of this important service.

Government is also committed to working with the Association and its corporate and community partners to help identify additional sources of funding to resolve this issue.

May 05 07                                         5:00 p.m.