Private Member's Bill

May 10, 2006

Bill Passes Second Reading - Students Make Legislative History

Education Amendment Act (Nutrition Standards in Schools) , 2006

Ontario Hansard - 06-April2006

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): Mr. Speaker, I will be introducing two bills for first reading today and I want to inform the Legislature that both bills were developed by Ontario students through the CBC's Making the Grade project. This project, spearheaded by the CBC's Queen's Park reporter, Mike Wise, is an attempt by CBC News to find new ways to get young people interested in politics. Today is evidence of the success of that initiative.

I want to acknowledge and welcome to the Legislature students from Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville, who are here with teachers Ms. Monique Gazan and Ms. Amber Mitchell. Members, please welcome the students who are in the gallery today.

I want to extend a special welcome to Nupur Dogra, the grade 9 student from Iroquois Ridge High School who initiated and led the development of the first bill I will now move for first reading.

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Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): In presenting this bill for first reading today, I do want to acknowledge the initiative of Nupur Dogra. Nupur, as I mentioned, is a grade 9 student who was inspired, through the CBC's Making the Grade project, to take action on an issue about which she feels very passionately. Nupur wants to enable students to make healthier choices at lunchtime, and she wants to help fight the problem of childhood obesity. To quote Nupur, "$1.6 billion is going towards treating obesity-related illness. This bill will help make a difference by positively affecting our society's economy, by spending less money to treat these diseases."

This bill, if passed by the Legislature, will amend the Education Act to require three new duties of school boards. First, school boards must ensure that pupils receive instruction in nutrition standards for healthy eating. Those standards include the standards set out in Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and in Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating, both published by Health Canada. Secondly, school boards must establish a committee to advise on what standards should form part of the subject matter of the instruction. Thirdly, school boards must post a copy of the two publications of Health Canada in cafeterias that they operate.

On behalf of Nupur Dogra and the thousands of students that she is convinced this legislation will benefit, I urge members to support this bill.

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