Message from Tony
National School Food Program Agreement with Ontario
Following our government’s recent signing of an agreement with Ontario under the National School Food Program (NSFP), I am pleased to share an overview of the principles of this agreement.
The NSFP is guided by the principles and objectives laid out in the National School Food Policy, which include accessibility, health promotion, inclusivity, flexibility, sustainability, and accountability. Through this program we will increase access to nutritious food for up to 400K more students, providing peace of mind for families and supporting learning and well-being across Canada, including Ontario.
Under the terms of their agreement, Ontario will receive $108.5 million in federal funding over the next three years to expand and enhance student nutrition programs across the province, including an initial $18.5 million in Year 1. Ontario will use the first year of funding to bolster existing school food offerings in schools that currently have programs delivered through their Student Nutrition Program (SNP) and their First Nations Student Nutrition Program (FNSNP).
Key goals and projected outcomes include:
- Expanded Reach: In Year 1, federal funding will allow Ontario to increase the average number of students served daily by 160,000 – a 20% increase over their 2022-23 baseline.
- Increased Meal Service: An additional 9.8 million meals will be served this year through the Student Nutrition Program, supporting more students and strengthening the nutritional foundation critical for learning.+
- Althoughstudent numbers cannot be tracked directly under the First Nations Student Nutrition Program, over 130,000 additional meals are projected to be served in Year 1 as part of equitable food access for First Nations communities.
- Progress Toward National Goals: Ontario’s expanded reach represents 40% of our national goal of 400,000 additional students served, in linewith Ontario’s share of Canada’s population.
- Combined with the agreements we’ve signed with Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador; this means that over 183,000 more students will receive nutritious meals across Canada within this school year alone.
I was pleased to join the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister last Thursday as we announced that starting on December 14, we’re giving a tax break to all Canadians. With a GST/HST exemption across the country, Canadians will be able to buy essentials like groceries, snacks, children’s clothing, and gifts—all tax-free.
This new tax break will apply to:
- Children’s clothing and footwear, car seats, and diapers
- Children’s toys, such as board games, dolls, and video game consoles
- Prepared foods, including vegetable trays, pre-made meals and salads, and sandwiches
- Restaurant meals, whether dine-in, takeout, or delivery
- Snacks, including chips, candy, and granola bars
- Beer, wine, cider, and pre-mixed alcoholic beverages below seven percent ABV
- Books, print newspapers, and puzzles for all ages
- Christmas trees
This tax break will last until February 15, 2025. This will deliver meaningful savings for Canadians by essentially making all food GST/HST free, providing real relief at the cash register.
Connecting our first digital communities
We all know that Internet is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. If we are to build a Canada that is fair for every generation, we must make sure everyone has access to reliable high-speed Internet. This is especially true in rural communities – namely Indigenous communities – that have historically been underserved.
I was honoured to celebrate the first customer connections under the Universal Broadband Fund in the Town of Georgina. This significant milestone for underserved residents of York Region marks a crucial step towards providing reliable, high-speed internet access.
This is a result of our $19 million investment through the Universal Broadband Fund to help YorkNet connect thousands of underserved households in York Region. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion program designed to make sure we bring high-speed Internet to each and every corner of the country by 2030.
We committed to bringing high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadian households by 2026, and those hardest to reach places by 2030, to get us to 100%. 94.5% of households in Ontario already have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 82.6% in 2014.
For people in rural and remote Ontario, a dependable, high-speed Internet connection can be lifechanging. It means new, better access to healthcare, education and help when you need it. I am proud of the work our federal government has done in funding the Universal Broadband Fund along with our partners The Government of Ontario and The Regional Municipality of York. Together, we are connecting communities and people and building a stronger more vibrant future.
Youth Mental Health Fund Call for Proposals
Mental health is health. We recognize the significant mental health challenges faced by youth, which have been exacerbated due to COVID-19. We’re making sure our young people and youth are resilient and have the supports needed to succeed – and not fall through the cracks.
We are delivering on our commitment of creating a $500 million Youth Mental Health Fund to make sure young people can access the mental health care they need. The first call for proposals under the Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF) is now open. Organizations can apply for funding to increase access to community-based mental health care for youth people across Canada.
The Fund will help community organizations expand the mental health care services they offer to youth, add capacity and fill gaps and ensure they are integrated within the broader healthcare system. It will also help community organizations link into Integrated Youth Service networks and/or provincial and territorial health systems.
The call for proposals closes on January 22nd, 2024.
Apply for 2025 Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidies
Employers in Newmarket-Aurora can now begin applying for funding through the 2025 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. CSJ provides wage subsidies to support employers from not-for-profit organizations, as well as public and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to help provide and create work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years.
The following national priorities were selected this year to meet current and future labour market needs to give the youth we serve, including those facing unique barriers to employment, the best chance possible to succeed.
- Opportunities for youth with disabilities or with organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities;
- Opportunities for youth that are underrepresented in the labour market;
- Opportunities for youth in rural areas, remote communities, or Official Language Minority Communities;
- Opportunities with organizations in the housing construction sector; and,
- Opportunities related to sustainable jobs that support climate change mitigation and/or adaptation or protect the natural environment.
The local priorities for Newmarket-Aurora are:
- Projects supporting environmental protection;
- Projects supporting small businesses;
- Projects supporting the skilled trades;
- Projects supporting the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector; and,
- Projects supporting not-for-profit organizations.
I encourage eligible organizations to learn more about the application process and apply with the national and local priorities in mind.
Applications will close on December 19th, 2024, at 11:59 PT.
