Item - 2025.EX21.8
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on March 26 and 27, 2025 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Executive Committee on March 19, 2025 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on March 26 and 27, 2025.
- See also 2025.TS4.1
EX21.8 - Building a Universal Student Food Program in Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Caution: Motions and votes are shown below. Any motions or votes should not be considered final until the meeting is complete, and the decisions for this meeting have been confirmed.
Committee Recommendations
The Executive Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the Federal Government to reallocate unspent funding for the 2025 Budget year through the National Student Food Program from jurisdictions where funding agreements have not been secured directly to jurisdictions with agreements in place including in Ontario for Toronto’s School Food programs.
2. City Council request the newly elected Government of Ontario to increase its per-student financial contribution levels for Student Nutrition Programs in Toronto such that the Province matches or exceeds the City’s contributions.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-253724.pdf
Revised Presentation from the Acting Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Public Health and the Director, Operations and Business Services, Toronto Public Health on Building Towards a Universal Student Food Program in Toronto - Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-253725.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/comm/communicationfile-188202.pdf
Communications (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council direct an increase of $5,000,000 gross, $0 net, to the 2025 Operating Budget for the City Manager’s Office to expand the school food program to new school communities and enhance existing programs in current schools, offset by available funds resulting from underspending in 2024.
2. City Council direct the City Manager, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to ensure new funds allocated towards the School Food Program align with the City’s Economic Action plan and its response to the trade war by prioritizing bulk purchasing from local food producers, distributors and suppliers to maximize cost efficiency while supporting Toronto's local economy, workers and businesses.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Mar-26-2025 5:24 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX21.8 - Chow - motion 1 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 22 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday |
| Total members that were Absent: 3 | Members that were absent are Shelley Carroll, Paula Fletcher, Jennifer McKelvie |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Mar-26-2025 5:26 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX21.8 -Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 22 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday |
| Total members that were Absent: 3 | Members that were absent are Shelley Carroll, Paula Fletcher, Jennifer McKelvie |
EX21.8 - Building a Universal Student Food Program in Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Executive Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the Federal Government to reallocate unspent funding for the 2025 Budget year through the National Student Food Program from jurisdictions where funding agreements have not been secured directly to jurisdictions with agreements in place including in Ontario for Toronto’s School Food programs.
2. City Council request the newly elected Government of Ontario to increase its per-student financial contribution levels for Student Nutrition Programs in Toronto such that the Province matches or exceeds the City’s contributions.
Origin
Summary
At its meeting on February 26, 2025 the City-School Boards Advisory Committee considered Item TS4.1 and made recommendations to Executive Committee.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-253724.pdf
Revised Presentation from the Acting Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Public Health and the Director, Operations and Business Services, Toronto Public Health on Building Towards a Universal Student Food Program in Toronto - Update
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-253725.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/comm/communicationfile-188202.pdf
Speakers
Shathvahi Ramesh, Malvern Family Resource Centre