Item - 2024.HL13.4

The Board of Health recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into agreements and other suitable arrangements, on behalf of the City of Toronto, for the transfer of funds to the Angel Foundation for Learning ($4,919.3 thousand) and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success ($14,214.9 thousand) for the purpose of administering the 2024 approved municipal funding (totalling $19,134.2 thousand) to eligible student nutrition programs across the City of Toronto on terms satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The Board of Health:

 
1. Requested the Government of Canada to expand the National School Food Program to provide funding for a universal program which would provide nutritious meals for every school-aged child.

2. Requested the provincial Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to encourage the Government of Ontario to reach an agreement with the federal government as soon as possible so that the National School Food Program can be rolled out in the 2024-2025 school year.

3. Forwarded this report to the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the federal Minister of Health, the federal Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada, the provincial Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, the provincial Minister of Health, the provincial Minister of Education, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire Viamonde, le Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, the Angel Foundation for Learning, the Daily Bread Food Bank, and United Way Greater Toronto.

4. Requested the Province of Ontario and Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to consult with public health units and municipalities on the design, delivery, and local governance of the National School Food Program in Ontario.

Student nutrition programs are meal and snack programs offered primarily in school settings. These programs help to ensure that children and youth, especially those at risk for poor nutritional intake, have access to safe and culturally appropriate nutritious food. Research continues to demonstrate that healthy school meals support student mental and physical health, and positively impact food choices. Participating students focus better, achieve academic success, develop greater nutrition knowledge and healthier eating habits. These positive impacts are shown to continue into adulthood resulting in long term positive health behaviours, such as reduced diet-related chronic disease.^1,2

Toronto's Student Nutrition Program has two streams: the Public Schools Stream, which includes public schools and some grandfathered independent schools and community sites, and the Independent Schools Stream. Student nutrition programs depend on funding from the City of Toronto (the City), the Government of Ontario, student and parent contributions, community and school board fundraising, and corporate donations. Additional funding and support from the federal and provincial governments is needed to meet student needs and ensure sustainable programs.

This report makes recommendations for the 2024 Student Nutrition Program service subsidy allocations, which includes an 8.5 per cent cost of food inflationary increase of $1,495.9 thousand from the approved 2023 budget. The proposed combined allocations to the Angel Foundation for Learning and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success are for the purpose of administering the 2024 approved municipal funding to eligible student nutrition programs across the City of Toronto and total $19,134.2 thousand which includes $280.1 thousand held in reserve for appeals and Fall applications.