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Food programs in jeopardy – Metro US

Food programs in jeopardy

A provincial plan to help Toronto expand school breakfast programs to almost 200 low-income neighbourhoods this year is in jeopardy if the city doesn’t match new funds from Queen’s Park.

More than 45,000 vulnerable children and youth may lose out unless the city kicks in an additional $1.48 million this year, warns Dr. David McKeown, the city’s medical officer of health.

“Without additional municipal funds, the (new) student nutrition programs will likely not be funded at a level that is viable,” he says in a report to the city’s community development committee Monday.

But city budget chief Shelly Carroll says the request is one of many councillors will have to weigh as cash-strapped Toronto struggles to balance its budget in hard economic times.