A landmark move is happening for the province of Ontario to help end period poverty among youth.
An announcement today was made by the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, that the Ministry has partnered with Shoppers Drug Mart and will be supplying period products for those who have a monthly menstrual cycle starting this fall.
The pharmacy will be providing pads and dispensers to all school boards across Ontario. Over the course of the next three years all school boards in the province will be receiving 18 million products through 1200 dispensers. School boards will then decide which schools will be getting dispensers; mostly high schools, as well as some elementary and middle schools will also benefit based on their local needs.
Currently there are 1 in 7 individuals (13-21 years old) who get a period that struggle to afford appropriate period products as well as 63 per cent have missed an activity because of their period.
Ontario follows in the footsteps of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and British Columbia to provide period products to students for free.
