‘They’re being excluded’: First Nations schools should also get free menstrual products, says MPP

It’s unfair to exclude First Nations school students from the province’s free period product program, especially since those essential items can cost twice as much in northern Ontario as they do in the south, says new Democratic Rep. Sol. Mamakwa.

Mamakwa told the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday that the price gap “is even bigger when you go to First Nations … A regular box of tampons can range from $ 16 to $ 45, leaving people to choose between menstrual products or food safety “.

Young people attending First Nations schools “have great needs for these products, but they are being excluded,” said Mamakwa, who represents the Kiiwetinoong leadership.

“The press release announcing this program says, ‘This supply of free menstrual products will be provided to all school boards,’ but that is not the case. It is unfortunate that the public-private sector agreement did not see the need to address the problem for all students in Ontario, but only for those who attend provincial schools. “

Mamakwa said the North Nishnawbe Board of Education, which oversees three secondary schools, “was disappointed to see that jurisdictional issues once again create division between provincial and First Nations schools and students” and is calling for be included.

Nishnawbe schools are run by a non-profit organization headed by a council of district chiefs. It is funded by the federal government but inspected by the province’s Ministry of Education.

Two weeks ago, Education Minister Stephen Lecce unveiled a new partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart that will distribute six million pads to Ontario schools each year for three years.

“We are proud have presented a plan to help end period poverty in this province for all publicly funded schools in the province of Ontario, ”Lecce said in response to Mamakwa’s question.

Lecce said the buyers will also provide “1,200 dispensaries to publicly funded schools in the province to support all students, including indigenous students within those schools and other young children in the province of Ontario.”

But Mamakwa said later On twitter that he did not get an answer to his question and that “jurisdictional issues should not divide provincial and First Nations schools and students.”

Jane McKenna, the province’s deputy minister for children’s and women’s affairs, said a survey by Plan International Canada showed that “63 percent of women and girls have missed regular and occasional activity due to their period. and concerns of not having access to menstrual hygiene “

Some school boards, including the Toronto District School Board, implemented similar programs in 2019 amid growing poverty awareness of the period. Some other provinces also have initiatives of this type.

Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, has said boards would like to see more types of menstrual products offered, such as tampons.