Thanks for the opportunity to speak. My name is Carolyn Webb. I represent Sustain Ontario, which is a member of the Coalition for Healthy School Food, which is a network of more than 40 groups and a project of Food Secure Canada.
Approximately 20% of students in Canada receive a meal or a snack at school, and evidence shows that a national healthy school food program would increase children's consumption of healthy foods, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve mental health, improve educational outcomes, and increase graduation rates.
These programs have the potential to create jobs and to grow local economies by investing in local agriculture and food businesses.
A national school food program has been recommended by the Senate social affairs committee, a former House finance committee, the Ontario Healthy Kids Panel, the former chief public health officer, and with Senator Eggleton's June Senate Motion No. 358.
We're asking your government to invest $360 million in your next budget to join provinces, territories, municipalities, community groups, parents, and many others in a cost-shared program that is estimated at around $1.8 billion.
Thank you.