Peggy Sattler MPP, London West

Government of Ontario

MPP Sattler calls on the province to fund school nutrition programs

Published on June 19, 2024

LONDON - MPP Peggy Sattler (London West) wrote to the Ministers of Education and Children, Community and Social Services to urge the government to increase provincial funding to support Ontario students' basic nutritional needs and advocate for a swift implementation of Canada's first National School Food Program within Ontario.

Read the full letter below.

2024-06-19_OSNP_Southwest_Page_1.png 2024-06-19_OSNP_Southwest_Page_2.png


Hon. Michael Parsa
Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services
7th Floor, 438 University Ave.
Toronto, ON  M7A 2A5

Hon. Todd Smith
Minister of Education
5th Floor, 438 University Ave.
Toronto, ON  M5G 2K8

June 18, 2024

Dear Ministers Parsa and Smith,

Let me begin by offering my sincere congratulations to Minister Smith on your new portfolio in the Ministry of Education. As you assume your new responsibilities, I am writing to bring to your attention the urgency of increasing provincial support for school nutrition programs in Ontario, an issue with which Minister Parsa is very familiar. At a time when so many families are experiencing a cost of living crisis, and school budgets are challenged to meet basic educational needs, the need to ensure that students do not come to school hungry has never been greater.   

With more and more families struggling to put food on the table, nutrition programs are an increasingly necessary element of our school system. Yet despite pre-budget calls for a doubling of provincial investment in student nutrition programs, there was no increase in core funding allocated in the 2024-25 Ontario budget. The Coalition for Healthy School Food shows that Ontario lags almost all other provinces and territories in provincial funding of student nutrition. In the face of rising food costs and escalating demand for school nutrition programs, some Ontario schools are forced to scale back their operations or pause or stop their programs entirely.

As one of the fastest growing municipalities in Ontario, London-area schools have seen significant increases in student enrollment and increased demand for student nutrition programs, without any increase in provincial funding. In London-Middlesex, the Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP) Southwest Region supports 89 schools and 23,000 students, who make up close to half of the students attending those schools. Of the 89 participating schools, 65 are targeted by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services because they are located in low SES areas of the city, or have high numbers of lone parent households or families dependent on Ontario Works or ODSP assistance.

When students go to school hungry, they cannot learn, and school boards are seeing increasing numbers of students staying home because of lack of food. The dire need to ensure that students have access to breakfast and lunch programs has led the Thames Valley Education Foundation to launch its first-ever fundraising campaign beginning this September to tackle food insecurity and support some of the highest-need schools to deliver student nutrition programs.

Current OSNP funding generates just $4.29 for each participating student in the Southwest Region for the entire school year, an amount that is stretched thinner and thinner by steep increases in food inflation. And because OSNP offers seed funding to get school programs started, it is up to the schools to fundraise to sustain their programs through to June. This has become more difficult as private donations dwindle, and corporate and charitable donors reduce the amounts they are granting. The OSNP-SW reports that at least eight high-needs schools in London did not receive the PC Power Full Kids Eat Well Grant this year. Across the OSNP Southwest Region, there are about 30 schools on the waitlist for student nutrition programs, all of which have students in immediate need.

As I am sure you are aware, Ministers, school nutrition programs deliver remarkable return on our provincial investment. In addition to alleviating hunger, research shows that they lead to positive changes in long-term dietary behaviors, overall health, and academic performance, as well as improvements in children’s mental health, and reductions in bullying, anxiety, and depression.  School food programs also improve local economies by easing the financial strain on low-income families and supporting local food growers.

While the federal government has announced Canada’s first National School Food Program, the investment falls short of what is required to ensure that every Ontario student has the fuel they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Moreover, the program’s effectiveness will rely on the commitment and ability of the province to roll out the funding as quickly and efficiently as possible, and to ensure accountability in the allocation of the funds.

Ministers, I call on you to jointly advocate for increased provincial funding to support Ontario students’ basic nutritional needs now, while you push for swift implementation of the national program. At the same time, I urge you to not allow any delays in negotiating or implementing the federal program prevent you from taking meaningful action as soon as possible. Our students’ success at school is depending on you. 

Sincerely,
Peggy Sattler, MPP
London West