Type of Intervention: Financial and Economic, Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Education, Health
Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Aid distributed to community groups
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services; Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education; Catherine Parsonage, Chair, Student Nutrition Ontario; delivered in partnership with local agencies, school boards and community partner organizations
Overview: The Ontario government is investing $1 million to improve access to healthy meals and snacks for school-age children during COVID-19. As a result of COVID-19-related school closures, Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program has had to find innovative solutions to help support families experiencing increased food insecurity. The Program has been adapted to include new approaches to meal delivery, including distribution of grocery gift cards, food box, frozen meal, or meal kits delivery, and supporting food banks.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2020/06/ontario-supports-children-and-youth-during-covid-19.html
Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Providing support
Evidence/Justification: As a result of COVID-19, there has been increasing food insecurity impacting school-age children in Ontario. The government justifies this investment as a means to ensure students continue to have access to nutritious food to keep them healthy and stimulated academically.