FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says the pay-what-you-can school lunch program she promised in the 2024 provincial election campaign will roll out this fall.

The program will see students between kindergarten and Grade 8 pay $4 per meal, while students between Grade 9 and Grade 12 will pay $5 per meal.

The province says families who can’t afford the cost will receive a full subsidy from the government and community organizations.

The government says it has set aside $26 million for the program.

Holt said in the last election she would institute pay-what-you-can lunches and a free breakfast program by September 2025.

Free breakfasts expanded to all 296 schools on time, but Holt said that the lunch program was delayed because not all schools had the infrastructure to support hot meals.

“We know when students have a full belly, they can better focus on learning,” Holt said in a statement Thursday. “By giving students access to nutritious, affordable options at school, we are giving them one of the essential tools they need to learn and thrive, while also making life more affordable for New Brunswick families.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.







— By Devin Stevens in Halifax.

The Canadian Press