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Ontario Schools to Offer Free Menstrual Products

In a new deal with the Ford Government, Shoppers Drug Mart will provide six-million free menstrual products per year, over the next three years.

ONTARIO - The Ford Government is teaming up with Shoppers Drug Mart to distribute free menstrual products to school boards across the province.

Shoppers has agreed to provide six-million free menstrual products per year, over the next three years. They will be distributed to every school board across the province by fall of this year, but the exact amounts will be based on local needs.

According to a survey conducted by Plan International Canada, 34 percent of women and girls have struggled to afford menstrual products and have even had to cut other items out of their budget in order to afford them. It also says 63 percent of women and girls have missed out on an activity because they were concerned about access to pads and tampons as well as proper facilities.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce says menstrual products are a necessity, not a luxury.

“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.”

This agreement is the first of it's kind in Ontario and we are now the fourth province in Canada to take action against period poverty in schools.

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