Educators and advocates in Toronto say the just announced national school food program is long overdue and a huge relief.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in the city yesterday to make the pre-budget announcement which was a campaign promise by the Liberals back in 2021.

Utcha Sawyers is with BCG Scarborough which serves over 3000 families a year in east Toronto.

She says the breakfast program will enhance learning for children in her community.

“Having the opportunity to work with and provide opportunities to animate access, which I think is the key point here is increasing access to healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate food that will nurture our generations that will go on to be stewards for our local community,” Sawyers explained alongside the prime minister.

Advocates had criticized Ottawa’s previous inaction on the file.

A March nutrition update from the Toronto District School Board reports 14 percent of students say they sometimes, often or always feel hungry because of food shortages at home.

The new federal program is expected to provide meals to 400,000 more kids each year during the 1-billion dollar five year plan.