N.B. government splits student lunch costs with families in pay-what-you-can program

New Brunswick is launching a pay-what-you-can lunch program for schools.

The New Brunswick government is splitting the cost of student lunches with families as part of a new pay-what-you-can program in schools across the province.

The government is spending $26 million on the program for the 2026-2027 school year. The program has already been tested in a prototype form at select schools.

“We learned from the challenges seen in the school lunch models in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and are proposing a different model for New Brunswick,” said Claire Johnson, minister of education and early childhood development, in a news release. “Using a model where everyone pays the same price helps with affordability and sustainability while fostering greater social equality for all students.”

In the program, families will pay $4 per meal for students in kindergarten to Grade 8, and $5 per meal for Grades 9 to 12. The government will share the costs with families.

“To ensure every student can participate, families who are unable to afford these costs will receive a full subsidy supported by community organizations that raise funds, as well as government,” the release reads. “Families will also have an option to contribute more if they choose to do so.”

Last September, the New Brunswick government launched a universal breakfast program in schools, which is expected to cost $11 million over three years.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.