Ontario increasing access to free menstrual products in schools

The Ontario government says it will provide more than 23 million free menstrual products to students over the next three years.

Ontario’s Minister of Education, Todd Smith, announced in Brampton Monday morning of a new agreement with Shoppers Drug Mart to expand the province’s Menstrual Equity Initiative.

The expansion plans to provide free menstrual pads and tampons to 1,380 dispensers across schools in the first year.

This agreement includes three million more menstrual products than were provided in the first agreement in 2021 valuing an increase of around $8 million of in-kind contributions.

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Smith said the program aims to reduce the barriers preventing women and girls from missing classes and overcoming help them, “reach their full potential and realize their dreams.”

Smith made the announcement at Jean Augustine Secondary School in Brampton along with Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity Charmaine Williams, and president of Shoppers Drug Mart Jeff Leger.

These products will be available to all school boards and school authorities across Ontario including the Consortium Centre Jules-Léger.