This year, 50 more schools across the city will be able to provide a morning meal to more than 17,000 new children under the Student Nutrition Program (SNP), according to the City of Toronto.
That’s on top of the 243,000 children fed last year. The program is currently active in about 75 per cent of Toronto public and Catholic schools.
The move is consistent with Toronto’s Cool Food commitments, which aim to provide a universal morning meal by 2026-27, and a universal lunch by 2030.
This year’s addition of new schools was possible due to the $6.9 million increase to the SNP’s budget, bringing the net total to $26.1 million annually. The programs save enrolled families around $1,200 per child each year.
There are still “ongoing funding gaps” and systemic issues, however, according to the city. These disproportionately affect low-income, racialized, newcomer and disabled students.
The city, joined by advocacy group Progress Toronto, is calling for the province to match the city’s investment. The province hasn’t increased its school meal funding since 2015. The city also wants the federal government to chip in more.
The Resolve also reports that schools in wealthier neighbourhoods were consistently receiving more funding than those in lower income brackets. The program’s overreliance on parent volunteers creates additional barriers, including around language and navigating the difficult TDSB website.