The Ontario Government will distribute six million free menstrual products per year to school boards for the next three years.
This is part of a new partnership between the Ontario Government and Shoppers Drug Mart designed to improve access to menstrual products.
According to a release sent to the station, a survey conducted by Plan International Canada showed 63 per cent of women and girls have regularly or occasionally missed an activity because of their period and concerns about not being able to access menstrual hygiene products or proper facilities.
The report also noted that 34 per cent of women and girls have had to regularly or occasionally sacrifice something else within their budget to afford menstrual products.
Under the agreement announced, Shoppers Drug Mart will provide six million free menstrual products to the province per year, over the next three years, beginning in the 2021-22 school year.
Each school board will make decisions about the distribution of products based on local needs.