Ontario students will soon have access to free menstrual products thanks to a new partnership.
The province has teamed up with Shoppers Drug Mart to distribute six million free menstrual products per year over the next three years to school boards. Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced the partnership today.
For the program, the products will be provided to all school boards starting this year. School boards will decide how to distribute the products based on local needs.
“Through the strong advocacy of young leaders in our schools, it has become extremely clear that menstrual products are a necessity, not a luxury,” said Lecce in a news release.
“This agreement will help remove barriers for women and girls by allowing them to access products at school, free of charge. It is another important way that we are helping to build more inclusive schools that empower all girls to have the confidence to succeed.”
Work is underway to provide menstrual products to schools. The government expects schools will be able to distribute them starting in the late fall.
“Inequitable access to period products, particularly for students, can lead to missed opportunities — school, work, and other activities — and creates barriers to success,” said Jeff Leger, Shoppers Drug Mart president.
“This donation will provide thousands of students in Ontario with free access to period products, thousands who won’t have to make that difficult choice. We are proud to be a part of this initiative, and grateful to our stores, our partners, and our customers for their support.”
A Plan International Canada survey showed 63 per cent of women and girls have regularly or occasionally missed an activity because of their period or concerns about accessing products or proper facilities, according to the government release. The report also found 34 per cent of women and girls have had to sacrifice something in their budget to afford menstrual products.