Item - 2013.HL24.4

The Board of Health:

1.         Urged the Premier of Ontario to increase social assistance rates to a level that reflects the true cost of nutritious food, based on annual results from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Nutritious Food Basket survey.

2.         Requested the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care act on the recommendations outlined in the implementation plan of  No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy, including the six milestones identified for year one, to address the issue of childhood obesity and promote the health and well-being of children and youth in Ontario.

3.         Forwarded the report (September 16, 2013) from the Medical Officer of Health to:  the General Managers of Employment and Social Services; Shelter, Support and Housing Administration; Children’s Services; Affordable Housing Office; Parks, Forestry & Recreation; Economic Development and Culture; the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care; the Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services; the Ontario Minister of Children & Youth Services; the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; the Association of Local Public Health Agencies; the Ontario Public Health Association; Ontario Boards of Health; the Association of Ontario Health Centres; the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health; Dieticians of Canada, all Toronto area MPPs and MPs; and the five Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) in the Greater Toronto area.