On Thursday, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt served lunch at École Les Éclaireurs, launching a $26 million school lunch program aimed at providing meals to all students, regardless of their financial situation. The initiative allows families to pay full price, a reduced rate of $4, or receive meals for free if they are in need. This announcement comes as New Brunswick received an 'F' grade from Food Banks Canada for food insecurity, marking it as the only province to fail the assessment. The report revealed that 37% of residents allocate over 30% of their income to housing, while 64% struggle to cover essential expenses. Holt acknowledged the report's findings as a reflection of the hardships faced by many New Brunswickers. Local advocates assert that the failing grade serves as a wake-up call, urging the government to implement policy changes such as a rent cap and higher minimum wage. They view the lunch program as a step towards improving food security and breaking the cycle of poverty for children in the province.